Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this 1-year randomized trial was to evaluate and compare the clinical and radiographic performance of four immediately loaded mini dental implants (MDIs) and two immediately loaded standard-sized tissue-level (STL) implants, placed in the interforaminal region of the mandible and used to retain mandibular overdentures (IODs) in completely edentulous patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 completely edentulous patients wearing conventional maxillary dentures and complaining about insufficient retention of their mandibular dentures were divided into two groups; 25 patients received four MDIs and 25 patients received two STL implants. The marginal bone loss (MBL) at the mesial and distal sides of each implant was assessed by means of standardized intraoral radiographs after a period of 1 year. Implant success and survival rates were also calculated. Results: Immediate loading was possible for all patients in the first group. In the second group, an immediate loading protocol could not be applied for 10 patients. These patients were treated with a delayed loading protocol. A mean MBL of 0.42 ± 0.56 mm for the MDIs and 0.54 ± 0.49 mm for the immediately loaded STL implants was recorded at the end of the evaluation period. There was no statistically significant difference between the MDIs and the immediately loaded STL implants. Two MDIs failed, resulting in a survival rate of 98%. The success rate was 91%. For the immediately loaded conventional implants, the survival rate was 100% and the success rate 96.7% after 1 year of function. However, in 10 patients, the immediate loading protocol could not be followed. Conclusion: Considering the limitations of this short-term clinical study, immediate loading of four unsplinted MDIs or two splinted STL implants to retain mandibular overdentures seems to be a feasible treatment option. The marginal bone level changes around the MDIs were well within the clinically acceptable range.
| Original language | English |
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| Pages (from-to) | 1377-1388 |
| Journal | International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Implants |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
Funding
This study was supported by 3M ESPE Deutschland GmbH, Germany. The company did not participate in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or in manuscript preparation. All the investigators involved in the study were staff members of a university clinic and had no affiliation with the company. The authors did not have any financial interests, either directly or indirectly, in the products listed in the study.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| 3M ESPE Deutschland GmbH |