Ten-Year Results of a Prospective Case Series on Immediately Provisionalized One-Piece Alumina-Toughened Zirconia (ATZ) Oral Implants for Single-Tooth Restoration and Three-Unit Fixed Dental Prostheses.

AIMS: The intention of this 10-year prospective case series investigation was to clinically and radiographically investigate the outcomes of a one-piece alumina-toughened zirconia oral implant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty seven patients received one implant each for single crown restorations (SC), while 13 patients received two implants for a three-unit fixed dental prosthesis (FDP). Eighteen implants were placed in the upper jaw, with four implants in the upper anterior region and nine in the premolar region. The 35 implants of the lower jaw were placed in the premolar (n = 15) or molar region. Follow-up assessments were performed at final restoration insertion (RI), after 1, 5 and 10 years. Peri-implant soft tissue parameters were evaluated, and the peri-implant bone assessed at implant placement, final RI and at the 1-, 5- and 10-year follow-ups. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare differences over time and between groups (p < 0.05).

RESULTS: Three implants were lost in the SC patient group and none in the FDP group, yielding a cumulative survival rate of 94.3% for SC and FDP combined. The mean marginal bone loss of the remaining implants was 0.99 mm (implant placement to 10 years: p < 0.001) (0.61 mm for SC and 1.26 mm for FDP; difference: p < 0.05). Probing depth at implant sites increased (p = 0.006), the plaque index remained stable (p = 0.639) and the bleeding showed a significant decrease (p < 0.001), each from RI to the 10-year follow-up after loading. Patients experienced significant improvements in function, aesthetics, sense, speech and self-esteem from pretreatment up to the 10-year follow-up (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The high implant survival rate observed after 10 years substantiates the clinical applicability of the investigated implant system.