Ten-Year Survival of Single Implants With Veneered Porcelain on Zirconia or Titanium Abutments: A Retrospective Analysis.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the technical and biological complications of single implants with veneered porcelain on either titanium or zirconia abutments after 10 years in function.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

All single-implant surgeries performed at a specialist prosthodontic clinic between 2011 and 2013 were reviewed. After applying the inclusion criteria, 174 implants in 132 patients were included for further analysis. Marginal bone loss relative to baseline and technical complications, including porcelain fractures, were recorded from patient data.

RESULTS

A total of 65 patients with 87 implants were followed until the 10-year evaluation, including 29 implants connected to a veneered zirconia abutment and 58 to a veneered titanium abutment. One implant with a zirconia abutment was lost due to peri-implantitis after 7 years, while all other implants survived. Marginal bone loss did not differ significantly between the two abutment groups. At 10 years, implants with titanium abutments showed a mean marginal bone loss of 0.31 mm, whereas implants with zirconia abutments had a mean marginal bone loss of 0.28 mm. Peri-implant mucositis was observed in 34% of implants with zirconia abutments, compared to 16% of those with titanium abutments. Technical complications were noted in 10.3% of the implants at the 10-year follow-up. The most common complication was the chipping of the veneering porcelain, followed by abutment screw loosening.

CONCLUSION

Implant survival did not differ significantly between the two veneered abutment materials. Both abutment types exhibited low marginal bone loss at the 10-year follow-up. However, peri-implant mucositis was more frequently observed around zirconia abutments. Technical complications were moderate, primarily presenting as chipping of the veneering porcelain. The success rate for implants with zirconia abutments was 93%, compared to 82% for those with titanium abutments.