[Clinical observation of the curative effect after 5-year follow-up of single tooth implant-supported restorations in the posterior region].

OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinical curative effect after 5-year follow-up of single tooth implant-supported restorations in the posterior region. METHODS In the study, patients with single tooth implant-supported restorations in the posterior region after loading 5-year in the Second Clinical Division of Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from October 2005 to May 2010 was enrolled. The implant survival rate, prosthetic conditions (including the structural integrity or loosening of the prosthesis, the retention of the materials used to fill access holes of screw-retained implant crowns, loosening or fractures of the implant abutment or screw) and marginal bone lever level around implants were determined by clinical and radiographic examination. RESULTS The study was composed of 215 patients, the mean age was 48.6 years (range: 27 to 71), and 321 soft tissue implants were inserted. There were 9 implants loose and lost during the visit, the cumulative success rate was 97.2%. In the 312 remaining implants, 120 implants were placed in the upper jaws (38.5%) and 192 in the lower jaws (61.5%). Three different diameters as 3.3 mm (5 implants), 4.1 mm (115 implants) and 4.8 mm (192 implants) and three different lengths as 8 mm (21 implants), 10 mm (206 implants) and 12 mm (85 implants) were used, respectively. 277 (88.8%) cement-retained and 35 (11.2%) screw-retained implant-supported single crowns were made. The marginal bone loss (MBL) around dental implants after loading 5 years in the mesial and distal sides were (0.73±0.25) mm and (0.78±0.26) mm, respectively. There was no significant difference among MBL and bone quality, implant type, angle of abutment, prosthodontic type, crown-to-implant ratio, gender, and age of the patients (P > 0.05). The major mechanical complications after restoration involved loosening (8.6%) and fracture (2.9%) of the crown retainer screw, loss of resin covering the screw (11.4%), and the most frequent mechanical complications were loss of crown retention (14.1%) and fracture of porcelain (13.8%). The incidence of loss of crown retention was correlated with insufficient clinical crown height or using angle abutment (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION After loading 5 years, the bone level around the soft-tissue-implant placed in posterior region was stable. To minimize the frequency of mechanical complications after restoration, protocols must be established from diagnosis to the completion of treatment and follow up of implant-supported prostheses, especially in terms of adequate technical steps and careful radiographic evaluation of the components.