Retrospective chart analysis on survival rate of fixtures installed at the tuberosity bone for cases with missing unilateral upper molars: a study of 7 cases.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the survival rate of implants placed in the maxillary tuberosity region using the fixed prosthesis in partially edentulous cases.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Of implant-treated patients who visited Kyung Pook National University Hospital, 7 partially edentulous patients (2 male and 5 female; mean age, 52.3 years; range, approximately 43 to 65) were selected according to the following criteria: 1) less than 3-mm thickness alveolar bone reaming at the first molar area and 2) 1 to 2 fixture premolars, with the additional implant at the maxillary tuberosity region. For the control group, patients who had nontuberosity areas were selected. After 1 to 7 years, marginal bone level, fixture mobility, and radiolucency of tuberosity fixtures of the fixed prostheses were evaluated by digital panorama (Starpacs, Infinitt, Seoul, Korea).

RESULTS

None of the fixtures of the tuberosity-installed implants for 1 to 7 years failed. The marginal bone level around the implants of the maxillary tuberosity 1 to 6 years (average 3.4 years) after the final prostheses was approximately 0.6 to 1.3 mm, with an average of 0.94 mm.

CONCLUSION

The fixture installation at the maxillary tuberosity using the unilateral partially edentulous implant-fixed prosthesis would be a clinically acceptable treatment module.