Analysis of 164 Titanium Oxide-Surface Implants in Completely Edentulous Arches for Fixed Prosthesis Anchorage Using the Pterygomaxillary Region

Purpose: The purpose of the article was to evaluate the survival rates of TiUnite implants and then compare them to a previous similar study of machined-surface implants. Materials and Methods: This report presents the results of 82 consecutive patients treated since the introduction of Nobel Biocare's TiUnite surface. The patients were treated with complete-arch restorations using bilateral pterygomaxillary implants in edentulous maxillae. A total of 840 implants were placed in immediate extraction or healed sites, with a mean of 10 implants placed per patient. Results: In all, 826 of the 840 implants osseointegrated, for a cumulative survival rate (CSR) of 98.3%. One hundred fifty-eight of 164 pterygomaxillary implants successfully osseointegrated, yielding a 96.3% survival rate. Discussion and Conclusion: The results of this complete-arch maxillary prospective study suggest that Brånemark System TiUnite implants are more predicable than implants with a machined surface. Compared to a similar 1999 study in which the survival rate for machined-surface implants was 92.1%, the present study had a significantly higher survival rate of 98.6% with the TiUnite surface (P .001). In the pterygomaxillary region, there was an increase of 8% with the TiUnite surface as opposed to the machined surface (P .001). In addition, 62% of the implants in the present study were immediately loaded, compared to 0% in the machined-surface implant study. The titanium oxide surface appears to assist the healing response of the bone-implant interface. Keywords: immediate loading, implant surfaces, osseointegration, pterygoid, zygomatic implants