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. 2022 Aug 15;15(16):5584.
doi: 10.3390/ma15165584.

Results at the 1-Year Follow-Up of a Prospective Cohort Study with Short, Zirconia Implants

Marc Balmer  1 , Carolin Fischer  1 , Miha Pirc  1 , Christoph H F Hämmerle  1 , Ronald E Jung  1
Affiliations

Results at the 1-Year Follow-Up of a Prospective Cohort Study with Short, Zirconia Implants

Marc Balmer et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

The objective of this study was to clinically and radiologically evaluate the performance of a short (8 mm), 1-piece, zirconia implant after an observation period of 1 year in function. A total of 47 patients with 1 missing tooth in the position of a premolar or molar were recruited. Short (8 mm), 1-piece, zirconia implants were placed and loaded after a healing period of 2 to 4 months with monolithic crowns made of 3 different materials. Implants were followed up for one year and clinically and radiologically assessed. A total of 46 implants were placed. One was excluded since no primary stability was achieved at implant placement. At the 1-year follow-up, mean marginal bone loss 1 year after loading was 0.05 ± 0.47 mm. None of the implants showed marginal bone loss greater than 1 mm or clinical signs of peri-implantitis. A total of 2 implants were lost during the healing phase and another after loading, resulting in a survival rate of 93% after 1 year. All lost implants showed a sudden increased mobility with no previous signs of marginal bone loss or peri-implant infection. The short, 8 mm, zirconia implants showed stable marginal bone levels over the short observation period of 1 year. Although they revealed slightly lower survival rates, they can be suggested for the use in sites with reduced vertical bone. Scientific data are very limited, and long-term data are not yet available, and therefore, they are needed.

Keywords: ceramic; clinical; dental implantology; osseointegration; radiographic bone level; zirconia implant.

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Conflict of interest statement

M.B., C.F., M.H., C.H.H. and R.E.J. report grants from VITA Zahnfabrik during the conduct of the study. Outside the submitted work M.B., C.F., C.H.H., and R.E.J. report grants and personal fees from VITA Zahnfabrik and from PROSEC. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a–d) Implant surgery: (a) initial situation; (b) flap elevation; (c) drilling procedure; (d) implantation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a–d) Implant restoration: (a) prefabricated zirconia cap situation; (b) final impression; (c) baseline examination; (d) 1-year follow-up.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a–c) Radiographic series: (a) after implantation; (b) crown delivery; (c) 1-year follow-up-up.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Individual marginal bone-level changes over time (values in mm).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Kaplan–Meier survival plot, including the 95% confidence intervals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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