A 20-year split-mouth comparative study of two screw-shaped titanium implant systems

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Periodontology
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Dental implants are a common solution for tooth replacement.
• Long-term data on implant performance is crucial for clinical decision-making.
• Assessing marginal bone loss and survival rates helps evaluate implant longevity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare marginal bone loss and implant survival between Astra Tech (group A) and Brånemark (group B) implants.
• To prospectively evaluate these outcomes over a 20-year follow-up period.
• To conduct a split-mouth study for direct comparison within patients.

Main Methods:

• A total of 95 implants (50 group A, 45 group B) were randomly placed in 18 patients.
• Clinical and radiographic examinations were performed at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years post-prosthesis insertion.
• Split-mouth design allowed for direct comparison of implant types within the same patient.

Main Results:

• Ten patients completed the 20-year follow-up (26 group A, 25 group B implants).
• No implant loss or prosthetic failures were recorded.
• No significant differences in marginal bone loss were observed between implant groups (P=0.25) or over time (P≥0.05).

Conclusions:

• Screw-shaped titanium implants demonstrate clinically insignificant marginal bone loss after 20 years.
• Astra Tech and Brånemark implants exhibited comparable survival rates and marginal bone loss over the 20-year follow-up.
• The study supports the long-term efficacy and predictability of both implant systems.