Mk III: A Third Generation of the Self-Tapping Brånemark System® Implant, Including the New Stargrip Internal Grip Design. A 1-Year Prospective Four-Center Study

Background: Many prospective studies have shown predictable long-term results of the Branemark System (Nobel Biocare AB, Gothenburg, Sweden) turned-surface implants in totally edentulous, partially edentulous, and single cases. The Mk III self-tapping implant was introduced by Nobel Biocare in 1999 as part of a new implant generation that improved on the Mk II self-tapping implant that had been introduced in 1992. A new implant design should always be evaluated, preferably in prospective multicenter studies. Purpose: The aim of the present prospective multicenter study was to evaluate the short-term success rate of the Br † nemark Mk III machined- and turned-surface self-tapping implant and to evaluate the clinical handling of the new Stargrip (Nobel Biocare AB) internal grip design. Materials and Methods: The open prospective 1-year multicenter study was performed at four clinics. Sixty-four patients (38 females, 26 males) with a mean age of 51 years (range, 16 to 80 years) were included. Seventeen of the patients were totally edentulous, 26 were partially edentulous, and 21 had single-tooth losses. In total, 194 Mk III implants were inserted, 89 in the maxillas and 105 in the mandibles. Results: Fifty-eight patients were observed for 1 year after prosthetic loading. Three of 194 implants were lost, corresponding to a cumulative success rate of 98.4% after 1 year, 100% for maxillary implants and 97.1% for mandibular implants. The implant driver carried the implants reliably in 99.5% of all treated patients. Sixty-two patients received the planned prosthetic reconstruction. All but one prosthetic reconstruction survived after 1 year of loading. The mean marginal bone resorption, analyzed from radiographs of 143 implants, was 1.15 mm (standard deviation [SD], 1.09 mm) from the second-stage surgery to the 1 -year follow-up. Conclusion: The 1-year success rate of the Mk III implant was high, and the clinical handling of the internal grip design (Stargrip) improved the surgical technique and was well appreciated by both surgeons and assisting staff.