Single-tooth implant rehabilitation: a retrospective study of 67 implants

The use of osseointegrated implants is an accepted procedure for the treatment of total and partial edentulism and offers good predictability of long-term success. For the last several years, this procedure has also been used for single-tooth replacement following loss of teeth for traumatic, periodontal, and carious lesions. This paper reports the clinical experience of 47 patients treated for a single-tooth replacement. Sixty-seven screw-type standard, self-tapping implants and mini-implants were placed. The results were similar to those for complete and partial osseointegrated prostheses. The total implant survival rate was 94.4%. Two implants were lost as a result of suppuration caused by membrane exposure, while another was lost after loading. The results suggest that single-tooth replacement using osseointegrated implants provides predictable success.