Porous-Surfaced Dental Implants in the Partially Edentulous Maxilla: Assessment for Subclinical Mobility

Fifty patients received 151 short, porous-surfaced implants in the partially edentulous maxilla. Periotest values (PTV) were recorded at baseline and after 6 months and 1 and 2 years. For this, prostheses were removed and a standard abutment attached and tightened (20-Ncm force) to each implant. Data analysis indicated significant relationships between time in function vs PTV and implant diameter (3.5, 4.1, or 5.0 mm) vs PTV. There was no relationship between PTV and implant length. PTVs were more favorable in the posterior than anterior maxilla, and better PTVs were obtained with nonsplinted as opposed to splinted implants.