A Retrospective Clinical Study of Survival Rate for a Single Implant in Posterior Teeth

Han, Sungil; Lee, Jae Hoon

Abstract

PURPOSE
Single implants, of which screw loosening has been observed frequently, presents problems such as fixtures fractures, marginal bone loss, and inflammation of the soft tissue around the implant. However, the single implant is more conservative, cost effective, and predictable compared to the 3 unit bridge with respect to the long-term outcome. This study evaluated the survival rate as well as future methods aimed at increasing the survival rate in single implants in posterior teeth.
METHODS
Among the implants placed in the Dankook University Dental Hospital department of Oral & Maxillofacial surgery from January 2001 to June 2008, 599 implants placed in the maxillar and mandibular posterior were evaluated retrospectively. Survival rates were investigated according to implant location, cause of tooth loss, gender, age, general disease, fixture diameter and length, surface texture, implant type and shape, presence of bone graft, surgery stage, surgeons, bone quality and opposite teeth.
RESULTS
Out of 599 single implants in posterior teeth, 580 implants survived and the survival rate was 96.8%. The difference in survival rate was statistically significant according to the implant location. The survival rate was low (84.2%) in implants exhibiting a wide diameter (> or = 5.1 mm) and the surface treated by the acid etching group demonstrated a significantly lower survival rate (91.1%). One stage surgical procedure, which implemented a relatively better bone quality survival rate (100%), was higher than the two stage surgical procedure (96.1%). The survival rate of type IV bone quality (75%) was significantly lower than the other bone quality.
CONCLUSION
Single posterior teeth implant treatments should use an improved surface finishing fixture as well as careful and safe procedures when performing implant surgery in the maxilla premolar and molar regions since bone quality is poor.