Immediately loaded short implants: Analysis of a case series of 133 implants

Objective: To perform a retrospective study on the success of immediately loaded short implants (ie, length ¡Ü 10 mm). Method and Materials: From January 1995 to October 2004, 133 short implants were inserted and immediately loaded. Multiple implant systems were used, with a mean follow-up of about 4 years. Only 3 of the 133 implants were lost (ie, a survival rate of 97.7%), and no statistically significant differences were found among the studied variables; no or reduced marginal bone loss was considered as an indicator of the success rate when evaluating the effects of several factors with the use of a general linear model. Results: By using the survival rate, no differences were detected among the studied variables. On the contrary, the analysis of the success rate by means of a general linear model showed that wider (diameter > 3.75 mm) and longer (length = 10 mm) implants were related to a lower delta insertion abutment junction (or marginal bone loss) and thus a better outcome. Conclusion: Immediately loaded short implants had a high survival rate and success rate similar to those reported in previous studies of 2-stage procedures. Immediate loading of short implants can be considered a reliable technique, although a higher marginal bone loss was to be expected when narrow (diameter ¡Ü 3.75 mm) and shorter (length 10 mm) implants were used. Keywords: alveolar bone resorption, dental implants, general linear model, immediate loading, oral rehabilitation, short implants