Mandibular single crystal sapphire implants: changes in crestal bone levels over three years

A total of 190 single crystal sapphire implants, 85 short (4S9S) and 105 long (4S9L), were monitored with panoramic and intraoral radiographs for 3 years. The implants were used as abutments for overdentures in edentulous mandibles in 51 patients. Within the first year, 2 patients lost one implant each due to pain and lack of osseointegration. Neither was replaced and the superstructures remained stable. At baseline registration, i.e., immediately after the prosthetic installation, the bone height relative to the length of the implant was calculated. The mean bone implant score (BIS) was 63.55 +/- 1.34% (mean +/- SE). BIS decreased during the first year 62.18 +/- 1.51%. At the 2- and 3-year recordings, the mean BIS were 61.81 +/- 1.58% and 61.73 +/- 1.63%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in BIS changes over the 3-year period or between men and women. The decrease in mean BIS was greater for implants in the premolar region than in the incisor region and for short implants than for long implants.