Comparative Clinical Study Using Short and Conventional Implants in Bilateral Jaw Posteriors

The aim of this study was to clinically and radiographically compare extra short and standards implants. Forty-two implants were installed in 10 selected patients. They received prosthetic loading only after the conventional waiting time for osseointegration and the prostheses were made ferulized. Radiographic shots were performed to evaluate vertical and horizontal bone losses at times T1 (prosthetic installation), T2 (6 months follow-up) and T3 (12 months follow-up). Biological parameters such as bone level around the implants (CBL) were evaluated, CBL alteration (CBLC), total crown length (TCL) and implant/crown ratio (ICR) were digitally calculated. All implants included in the study were submitted to the analysis of the implant stability quotient (ISQ) at the time of implant installation (T0) and at 12 months of prosthetic function (T3). Data were statistically tested. The ICR was higher in the test group than in the control group (p<0.0001). The CBL measurements at the beginning of the study were 0.21±0.19 mm and 0.32±0.38 mm and at 12 months 0.65±0.24 mm and 0.87±0.34 mm, respectively in the test and control groups. CBLCs and CBL were similar at all times (p>0.05). No correlation was found between CBLC and ICR parameters, as well as between ISQ and implant length. We may conclude that standards and extra short implants can provide similar clinical results in prosthetic rehabilitation of the atrophic jaw over 12 months of follow-up.