Evaluation of implant-prosthetic treatment of patients with edentulous posterior areason the lower jaw, one year follow-up.

Abstract

Introduction: Advancement of technologies in implantology permits rehabilitation of edentulous patients restoring esthetics, function and lost confort, meanwhile, increasing the quality of life for these patients. One of the factors that are considered during implant placement is the area where the surgery should be done. These areas differ in bone quality and quantity, vascularisation degree, presence of adjacent anatomical features, masticatory forces, inclination degree of teeth, etc. Posterior mandibular areas exhibit dificulties for implant placement caused by the presence of mandibular canal, submandibular fossae, poor vascularisation and high masticatory forces.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the succes of implant-prosthetic treatment in posterior mandibular areas after one year of functional loading.

Materials and methods: The study was based on the literature data and clinical results of 33 two-stage dental implants inserted in the posterior areas of lower jaw in 9 patients (aged between 39-51 years) applying the standard Branemark protocol. Patients had no general and local health problems that could jeopardise the treatment success. Only short edentulous spans have been included in the study from which 4 were single unit spans. Inserted implants were mainly of 3.75-10 mm and were loaded in conventional terms ( >2 months) evaluating further the early success (1-3 years) applying the Albreksson succes criteria. The bone-implant resorbtion was evaluated after 12.2 months using the radiological method proposed by Topalo V. and Mostovei A. Soft tissue status was clinically evaluated through probing and determination inflamatory signs arround implants.

Results: During the follow-up period there have been noticed no signs of inflamation in soft tissues. Probing showed a firm gingival attachemnt with no exudate. Patients had no sings of pain, discomfort or tooth mobility. Bone resorption during the flolow-up period was 0,35±0.05mm mesially and 0.22±0.04 distally.

Conclusions: Despite the poor conditions which limits the surgery field in the lateral mandibular areas with poor vascularization in elder patients, implant-prosthetic treatment in this areas however has a predictable and stable result after one year restoring lost function of the masticatory system.