Radiographic evaluation of narrow-diameter implants from different systems for two years

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Periodontology
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Narrow-diameter implants (NDIs) provide a solution for bone augmentation in narrow alveolar ridges.
• Evaluating NDI performance is crucial for managing limited bone width cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively assess marginal bone loss (MBL) and survival rates of NDIs from three systems after two years.
• To compare MBL across different implant systems, patient demographics, and locations.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective evaluation of 109 NDIs from Straumann®, Thommen, and Osstem brands in 78 patients.
• Radiographic MBL measurements at baseline and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-loading.
• Statistical comparison of MBL based on implant system, gender, and anatomical location.

Main Results:

• Overall 2-year survival rate was 98.17%, with two failures within 6 months.
• Mean 24-month MBL was 1.67 ± 0.66 mm.
• Straumann® (TiZr alloy) implants showed significantly less MBL than Osstem (Grade IV titanium) implants. Female patients and posterior implant locations exhibited higher MBL early on.

Conclusions:

• NDIs exhibit high survival rates, validating their use in narrow alveolar sites.
• Implant system (material/design) significantly impacts MBL, with TiZr alloy showing superior results.
• Gender and posterior location are early factors influencing MBL, indicating multifactorial bone preservation.