Radiographic Vertical Bone Loss Evaluation around Dental Implants Following One Year of Functional Loading

Abstract

Objective: Vertical bone loss evaluations in the Nobel Biocare Replace(®) Select Tapered (™) implant system in the human after one-year loading time.

Materials and methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on 31 patients (14 men, 17 women; mean age, 60.39 years) receiving 170 implants (mean, 5.48 for each patient) of Groovy and Non-groovy designs in the Nobel Biocare Replace(®) Select Tapered (™) system. The marginal bone loss was measured at mesial and distal aspects of the implants on OPG x-rays after one-year follow-up. The data regarding the patient's gender, age, history of disease, smoking, bone type at implant location, loading time of prosthesis and implant, implant design, diameter and length were recorded by the patients' records and interview. The data were subjected to multiple linear regression and Pearson coefficient ratio regarding different factors.

Results: The mean (standard deviation) distal, mesial and overall bone loss was 0.688 mm (0.851), 0.665 mm (0.849) and 0.935 mm (0.905), respectively in the studied implants. No significant differences were found regarding implant location, bone quality at the implant region, implant design and bone graft reception. In addition, no significant correlation was found between the occurred bone loss and implant diameter, length and number of used splints.

Conclusion: Due to the criteria mentioned for implant success in term of bone loss values after one-year loading time, Noble Biocare Replace(®) Select Tapered (™) implant system is an acceptable treatment option for implant restorations in this regard.

Keywords: Alveolar Bone Loss; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Dental Implants; Radiography, Panoramic.

Fig 1.

Measurement of vertical bone loss A: the most upper point adjacent to the implant on the crest of the alveolar bone. The lowest point located at the bone loss depth was determined as point B. Point C is determined by drawing a vertical line from point B to the line that passes from point A perpendicularly to the implant surface. The distance from point B to C is considered as vertical bone loss.