One-Piece Narrow Implants as the Last Option in Patients With Maxillofacial Deficiency

Augmentation procedures in medically compromised patients, particularly those with a history of cancer or radiation to the head and neck region or with antiresorptive medication, pose heightened risks of complications. Narrow-diameter implants (NDI) offer a promising approach to reduce the need for augmentation during implant insertion. Previous studies have demonstrated the favorable outcomes of one-piece titanium mini-implants with a diameter of 1.8 to 2.9 mm. In this study, the authors report the preliminary results of one-piece NDI using S-Mono implants (Shinhung Co., Seoul, Korea) in patients with maxillofacial deficiency. The study was conducted at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Seoul National University Dental Hospital, between March 2019 and March 2023. A total of 21 implants were installed in 5 patients. One implant failed in 1 patient due to poor bone quality; however, successful reinstallation was achieved following bone healing with the same size of S-Mono implant. Although this study does not represent a final clinical report of all patients, our preliminary findings underscore the efficacy and necessity of S-Mono implants in enhancing patient survival and improving oral health-related and general quality of life, particularly in individuals with oral cancer and jaw pathologic conditions.