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Comparative analysis between extra-short implants (≤6 mm) and 6 mm-longer implants: a meta-analysis of randomized
Gvo Fernandes1, Bmgn Costa2, H F Trindade2
1Periodontics and Oral Medicine Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Australian Dental Journal
|January 30, 2022
Summary
Extra-short implants (≤6mm) show comparable survival rates to longer implants. However, these shorter implants demonstrate reduced marginal bone loss and fewer clinical complications, making them a viable option.
Area of Science:
- Dental Implantology
- Biomaterials Science
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Dental implant length is a critical factor influencing treatment outcomes.
- Extra-short implants (≤6mm) offer potential advantages in situations with limited bone height.
- Comparative data on the long-term performance of extra-short versus standard-length implants are essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically compare survival rates (SR), marginal bone loss (MBL), and clinical complications between extra-short implants (≤6mm) and 6mm-longer implants.
- To analyze data from randomized clinical trials to provide evidence-based insights.
- To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of different implant lengths.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and DOAJ databases.
- Meta-analysis of selected studies to compare SR and MBL.
- Inclusion of 17 studies with data from 956 patients and 1779 implants, followed for up to 8 years.
Main Results:
- Overall SR for extra-short implants (93.12%) was comparable to 6mm-longer implants (95.98%), with no statistical significance (P>0.10).
- Marginal bone loss (MBL) analysis indicated varied results over time, with extra-short implants showing less MBL at 8 years (-1.58mm vs -2.46mm).
- Extra-short implants exhibited a lower incidence of clinical complications compared to longer implants.
Conclusions:
- Extra-short implants demonstrate similar survival rates to 6mm-longer implants in randomized clinical trials.
- Marginal bone loss and clinical complications appear to be less frequent with extra-short implants.
- Extra-short implants represent a reliable and potentially advantageous treatment option, particularly in challenging anatomical situations.
