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Need for lateral bone augmentation at two narrow-diameter implants: A prospective, controlled, clinical study.
Andrea Roccuzzo1,2, Jean-Claude Imber1,3, Simon Storgård Jensen2,4
1Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Clinical Oral Implants Research
|February 6, 2021
Summary
Using smaller diameter implants (2.9mm) for missing lateral incisors may reduce bone augmentation needs compared to 3.3mm implants. Alveolar ridge width is a key predictor for bone augmentation procedures.
Area of Science:
- Dental Implantology
- Oral Surgery
- Periodontology
Background:
- Congenitally missing lateral incisors (MLIs) often require complex restorative solutions.
- Bone augmentation procedures (BAPs) are frequently necessary to achieve optimal implant placement and esthetics.
- Implant diameter and patient-specific anatomy are critical factors influencing BAP necessity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of implant diameter (2.9mm vs. 3.3mm) on the requirement for BAPs in patients with MLIs.
- To identify specific anatomic factors that predict the need for BAPs in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 100 patients with MLIs received either 2.9mm or 3.3mm diameter implants based on interdental distance.
- Pre-operative and post-osteotomy measurements included width of the alveolar process (WAP), width of the bony alveolar ridge (WAR), and thickness of the facial bone (TFB).
- BAPs were performed for dehiscence/fenestration defects or TFB < 1.7mm.
Main Results:
- While WAP and WAR did not differ significantly, the 2.9mm implant group had a larger TFB (1.75mm) compared to the 3.3mm group (1.5mm).
- Defects and thinner facial bone were more prevalent with 3.3mm implants, leading to a higher indication for BAPs (p=0.017).
- WAR and WAP were significantly correlated with BAP need (p<0.001), with WAR being the sole independent predictor (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- The use of 2.9mm implants showed a trend towards reduced BAP frequency compared to 3.3mm implants.
- Measuring WAP is valuable for clinicians in predicting the likelihood of requiring BAPs for MLI replacement.
