Survival of the Brånemark implant in partially edentulous jaws : a 10-years prospective multicenter study

Aim of the study

To evaluate the results of Brånemark implants in partially edentulous cases. This study is an extension of a multicentre study of which the preliminary 5 years have already been published.

Materials and methods

185 maxillary and 276 mandibular implants were placed in 127 patients by 6 teams between 1985 and 1987 ; 125 patients received partial prosthetic restorations. The mean age of the patients was 50 years. Clinical and radiographic parameters were assessed annually. Thirty-eight patients (30 %) withdrew from the study, 24 of them during the last 5 years.

Results

The global survival rate was 92,6 % (90,2 % in the maxilla and 93,7 % in the mandible). The majority of failures occurred prior to the fitting of the prostheses or 1-2 months after. Only 4 maxillary implants in 3 patients were lost during the last 5 years. The majority of the failed implants were of the standard, short type (7 and 10 mm). Bone loss was less than 1 mm in 70 % of cases and greater than 2 mm in 7 % of cases.

Conclusion

The global survival rate was 92,6 %. These results can be compared and even exceed those obtained in edentulous cases over the same period. The majority (83 %) were posterior in the maxilla and in the mandible. Three of the four implants were lost in the five last year caused more by mechanical causes (overload) than inflammation.

Commentary

This study has the merit of being the first prospective multicentre study of partially edentulous cases (mostly posterior) over 10 years. It makes a good case to practitioners and to patients alike for the predictability of Brånemark implant systems in partially edentulous cases.