Implant-Supported Immediately Loaded Fixed Full-Arch Dentures: Evaluation of Implant Survival Rates in a Case Cohort of up to 7 Years

BACKGROUND

The treatment of severely atrophied and edentulous jaws by means of fixed implant supported solutions is a challenging procedure.

PURPOSE

The immediate loading of four to six axial and tilted implants offers the possibility to overcome elaborate hard tissue augmentation procedures but lacks implant and patient related data on implant survival rates.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective 7-years clinical trial investigated the implant survival rates of 2,081 implants (380 patients, 482 jaws) using an immediate loading protocol with either 4, 5, or 6 implants per restoration. Survival rates were calculated concerning implantation related factors (jaws/number of supporting implants/angulations/diameters/lengths) and patient related factors (medical status/smoking).

RESULTS

Overall survival of 2,081 implants was 97.0% on implant level. Survival rates of implantation related factors did not yield significant differences. Significant differences were yield between healthy patients and patients with osteoporosis (p = .002) and the medical status group "other" (p = .032), respectively. Smokers yielded a significantly higher survival than nonsmokers (p = .002).

CONCLUSIONS

It is assumed that four implants per jaw serve as a sufficient implant number for full arch restorations in both, the mandible and the maxilla. Osteoporosis under the medication with bisphosphonates seems to be a risk factor for implant survival. The authors suggest that the effect of smoking on ISRs remains controversial within this treatment concept.