1. 6 mm short versus 11 mm long inter-foraminal implants in the full-arch rehabilitation of edentulous non-atrophic mandibles: 5-year results from a multicenter randomized controlled trial
- Author
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Luigi Guida, Umberto Esposito, Massimiliano Sirignano, Paolo Torrisi, Marco Annunziata, Denis Cecchinato, Guida, Luigi, Esposito, Umberto, Sirignano, Massimiliano, Torrisi, Paolo, Annunziata, Marco, and Cecchinato, Denis
- Subjects
short dental implant ,edentulous jaw ,Oral Surgery ,randomized controlled clinical trial - Abstract
The aim of this multicenter parallel-group randomized controlled trial is to compare, in the same clinical scenario, 6 mm short with 11 mm long implants for the rehabilitation of completely edentulous non-atrophic mandibles.Thirty patients in three study centers received a fixed full-arch mandibular rehabilitation supported by five inter-foraminal implants, with no need for bone augmentation procedures. Patients were randomly allocated (1:1 ratio), at the time of surgery, to test (6 mm implants) or control group (11 mm implants). After 3 months, a screw-retained full-arch prosthesis was positioned (baseline). Peri-implant marginal bone level change (MBLc, primary outcome) together with implant and prosthesis survival rate, and biological/technical complications (secondary outcomes) were evaluated up to 5 years.Twenty seven patients were controlled at 5 years (3 drop-outs). No implant or prosthesis loss occurred. No significant intergroup difference for biological/technical complications (p .05, Fisher's exact test) and no significant intragroup and intergroup difference in the MBLc values were registered (test -0.03 ± 0.17 mm and control -0.13 ± 0.32 mm at 5-years; p .025, one-sided Mann-Whitney U-test).When used in comparable anatomic, surgical, and prosthetic conditions, no difference in the clinical and radiographic outcomes between 6-mm and 11-mm implants was observed at 5 years of follow-up. Short implants showed to be a reliable option for the rehabilitation of completely edentulous non-atrophic mandibles. There is growing clinical evidence supporting the use of short implants, even in the case of non-atrophic sites.
- Published
- 2022