Short implants in posterior jaws. A prospective 1-year study.

BACKGROUND There is limited evidence for the outcome of short implants (7 mm) to rehabilitate posterior jaws. PURPOSE To report on the outcome of 7 mm short implants in the rehabilitation of posterior areas of atrophic jaws 1 year after loading. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective study included 127 patients treated with 217 implants supporting 165 fixed prostheses. Final abutments were delivered at surgery stage, and in 11 patients (18 implants) a provisional acrylic resin crown or bridge was manufactured and attached to the implants on the same day as the surgery, achieving immediate function. The final prosthesis was typically delivered after 6 months. Outcome measures were implant survival calculated at patient and implant levels, complications and peri-implant marginal bone resorption calculated at patient level. RESULTS Three patients with 5 implants were lost to follow-up after 7 months. Implant losses occurred in 6 of the 127 patients and 10 of the 217 implants placed failed, giving a success rate of 95% at patient and implant level after 1 year of follow-up. The mean marginal bone resorption after 1 year of follow-up was 1.27 mm (SD = 0.67 mm). The only complication registered was a periimplant pathology at one implant. CONCLUSIONS One year after loading, 7 mm short implants provided good success rates (95% at patient level and implant level) suggesting that the use of short implants is a viable concept, however longer follow-ups are needed to confirm these preliminary results.