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Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Wedge-Shaped Implants Inserted in Narrow Ridges: A 7-Year Follow-Up Multicenter
Antonio Rapani1, Tomaso Vercellotti2, Claudio Stacchi1
1Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34129 Trieste, Italy.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|September 13, 2025
Summary
Wedge-shaped implants show high 7-year survival rates for narrow alveolar ridges, avoiding bone grafting. Older age and mandibular placement may increase bone loss, but overall results are promising for this dental implant technique.
Area of Science:
- Dental Implantology
- Periodontology
- Oral Surgery
Background:
- Wedge-shaped implants offer a minimally invasive approach for narrow alveolar ridges, potentially eliminating the need for bone augmentation.
- Limited long-term clinical data exists for these implants despite promising short-term outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the 7-year clinical and radiographic outcomes of tissue-level wedge-shaped implants placed in horizontally atrophic ridges without bone grafting.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter prospective single-arm cohort study involving 45 wedge-shaped implants in 34 patients.
- Implants were placed in narrow ridges (mean thickness 3.73 ± 0.36 mm) without augmentation.
- Clinical and radiographic assessments were conducted at the 7-year post-loading follow-up.
Main Results:
- The implant survival rate was 95.5% after 7 years, with two failures (early loss and peri-implantitis).
- Peri-implant mucositis affected 11.4% and peri-implantitis 6.8% of implants; no mechanical complications occurred.
- Mean marginal bone loss (MBL) was 1.45 ± 1.41 mm. Older age and mandibular placement predicted greater bone loss.
Conclusions:
- Wedge-shaped implants achieve high long-term survival and stable marginal bone levels in narrow ridges, obviating the need for bone augmentation.
- Advanced age and mandibular implant location are associated with increased long-term bone loss.
- Smoking, gender, and history of periodontitis did not significantly impact long-term bone stability.
