The application of locking-taper implants in posterior area implant restoration with insufficient occlusal-gingival distances.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the effect of locking-taper implants on restoration in the posterior teeth area with insufficient occlusal-gingival distances.

METHODS

Forty-five patients undergoing dental implants in our hospital with occlusal-gingival distances under 5 mm in the posterior teeth area were recruited for this retrospective study. A total of 78 locking-taper implants were implanted in these patients. The patients were followed up for two years to observe the implant retention rate, the implant bone heights at different time points after the restoration, and the effects of the different implant placement depths on the marginal bone mass at the implants. Meanwhile, we evaluated the peri-implant soft tissue status by measuring the modified plaque index, the gingival index, and probing the depths. The postoperative complications and the patient satisfaction levels were also analyzed.

RESULTS

During the 2-year follow-up, the patients' implant retention rate was 100.00%. The implant placement depths did not affect the marginal bone masses at the implants at T0-T1 or T1-T2 (T0: the day after the restoration, T1: at one year after the restoration, T2: at two years after the restoration, all P>0.05). The peri-implant soft tissues in most of the patients were in good condition, and only a few patients had a small amount of plaque or slight gingival swelling. The average probe depth was 3.23±1.20 mm during the follow-up. Only one patient had abutment loosening, and one had a dental prosthesis fall off. The patients did not feel any numbness, continuous pain, or other abnormalities during the follow-up, and the overall patient satisfaction rate was over 97.78%.

CONCLUSION

Locking-taper implants can achieve good clinical outcomes in the restoration of the posterior area with insufficient occlusal-gingival distances. The implants can achieve a high implant retention rate, have no adverse effects on the peri-implant soft tissues, have a low complication rate, cause no significant marginal bone mass loss at the implants, and have a high patient satisfaction rate.