Long-term, retrospective evaluation (implant and patient-centred outcome) of the two-implant-supported overdenture in the mandible. Part 2: marginal bone loss.

OBJECTIVE

In part 2 of this long-term, retrospective study on the two-implant-supported overdenture in the mandible, the annual marginal bone loss was evaluated in detail and parameters, with a significant effect on the annual bone loss, were verified.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

For all 495 patients with an overdenture in the mandible at least 5 years in function, data up to their last follow-up visit had been collected, including long-cone radiographs (taken at the abutment connection and after years 1, 3, 5, 8, 12 and 16 of loading) and probing data at their last evaluation. General information (medical history, implant data, report on surgery) was retrieved from the patient's file. Two hundred and forty-eight patients had been clinically examined recently. For the others, information on bone level and probing depths were retrieved from the patient's files, as all patients had been enrolled in our annual follow-up schedule.

RESULTS

The mean annual bone loss on a site level (without considering the first year of bone remodelling) after 3 years of loading was 0.08 mm/year (SD=0.22, n=1105), after 5 years of loading 0.07 mm/year (SD=0.14, n=892), after 8 years of loading 0.06 mm/year (SD=0.12, n=598), after 12 years 0.04 mm/year (SD=0.07, n=370) and 0.05 mm/year (SD=0.05, n=154) after 16 years of loading. Ongoing bone loss was seen in a number of implants (n=26) with the annual bone loss exceeding 0.2 mm. Some factors clearly showed a significant impact on bone loss: smoking (> or =10 cigarettes/day), GBR, the presence of dehiscence and bone quantity(the latter only during the first year). The probing data showed a favourable condition, with <1.2% of the approximal pockets being > or =6 mm, and 4.1%=5 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

The mean annual bone loss over the study period was <0.1 mm/year after the first year of loading. However, a small number (2.5%) of the implants showed continuing bone loss.