Survival estimates and risk factors for failure with 6 x 5.7-mm implants.

PURPOSE

Short dental implants facilitate prosthetic restoration in the setting of limited alveolar bone height. The study objectives were to (1) estimate the 1-year survival of Bicon 6 x 5.7-mm implants, (2) compare the 1-year survival of 6 x 5.7-mm implants with that of non-6 x 5.7-mm implants, and (3) identify risk factors associated with implant failure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study design was used. The sample was composed of patients who had received at least one 6 x 5.7-mm implant. Predictor variables were categorized as demographic, health status, anatomic, implant-specific, prosthetic, perioperative, and reconstructive. The outcome variable was implant failure, defined as explantation. Appropriate descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate survival statistics were computed.

RESULTS

The sample was composed of 35 patients in whom 172 implants had been placed (45 of which were 6 x 5.7-mm). The 1-year survival rates for 6 x 5.7-mm and non-6 x 5.7-mm implants were 92.2% and 95.2%, respectively (P = .76). After adjusting for covariates in a multivariate model, implant size was not associated with failure (P = .95).

DISCUSSION

The comparable survival estimates for 6 x 5.7-mm implants and non-6 x 5.7-mm implants in this study suggested that 6 x 5.7-mm implants can become osseointegrated and bear a functional load after placement.

CONCLUSIONS

The survival of 6 x 5.7-mm implants was comparable to that of non-6 x 5.7-mm implants.