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Long-Term Retrospective Study of 3.0-mm-Diameter Implants Supporting Fixed Multiple Prostheses: Immediate Versus
The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants
|December 3, 2020
Summary
Immediate vs. delayed loading of narrow dental implants showed no significant difference in long-term survival or bone loss. This suggests immediately loaded narrow implants are a viable option for narrow ridges.
Area of Science:
- Dental Implantology
- Prosthodontics
- Periodontology
Background:
- Narrow dental implants (3.0-mm diameter) are frequently used for narrow alveolar ridges.
- While their efficacy is known, long-term data on loading protocols is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the influence of immediate versus delayed loading on the long-term outcomes of 3.0-mm diameter dental implants supporting fixed multiple prostheses.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 202 narrow dental implants.
- Immediate loading criteria: bone types I-III and insertion torque ≥ 25 Ncm.
- Recorded implant survival, prosthetic complications, and marginal bone loss over extended follow-up periods.
Main Results:
- 131 implants had delayed loading, 71 had immediate loading.
- Follow-up averaged 106 months (delayed) and 117 months (immediate).
- No significant difference in implant survival rates (96.2% vs. 97.2%) or marginal bone loss (1.2 mm) between groups.
Conclusions:
- The loading protocol (immediate vs. delayed) does not impact the long-term survival or marginal bone loss of narrow dental implants.
- Immediately loaded narrow implants are a suitable alternative for horizontally resorbed ridges.
- Further randomized clinical trials are recommended to validate these findings.
