Direct Replacement of Failed CP Titanium Implants With Larger-Diameter, HA-Coated Ti-6Al-4V Implants: Report of Five Cases

Failure to osseointegrate traditionally mandates immediate implant removal, followed by a 1-year healing period before placing a second implant into the same area. This report presents five cases in which failed screw-type, commercially pure titanium implants were immediately replaced by ledge-type, hydroxyapatite-coated, Ti-6Al-4V implants in the same sockets. These cases suggest that the 1-year healing period may not be necessary, provided that (1) the socket can be reprepared to eliminate thread grooves and invasive soft tissue, (2) the replacement implant is larger in diameter than the original implant, and (3) sufficient available bone remains for the procedures. Keywords: hydroxyapatite-coated implant, ledge-type implant, screw-type implant, titanium implant