Narrow implants (2.75 and 3.25 mm diameter) supporting a fixed splinted prostheses in posterior regions of mandible: one-year results from a prospective cohort study

Historically, implants have been used and documented mainly with diameters between 3.7 and 4.3 mm. Employing these diameters for numerous indications, scientifically substantiated treatment protocols with excellent long-term results have been established [1]. One disadvantage of a standard-diameter implant is the fact that, in clinical use, the available horizontal crestal dimensions of the alveolar ridge are sometimes too small. Although there is some discussion on the amount of bone (buccal and oral) necessary for a successful dental implant, most authors advise at least 1 mm residual bone present adjacent to the implant surface, which consequently requires a horizontal crestal alveolar width of 6 mm for a standard implant. However, the exact threshold for the residual buccal bone thickness has yet not been scientifically clarified and is still under discussion. When inadequate bone width is present for placement of standard-diameter implants, most practitioners have been taught to suggest bone grafting, using either autogenous bone or one of the many available bone substitutes. Bone grafting is a well-documented procedure to restore lost bone volume, but it is associated with increased morbidity and a prolonged treatment time, with the necessary graft-healing period when dentures cannot be worn [2]. While many additive techniques for the reconstruction of missing morphology are employed on a routine basis today, surgical intervention may not always lead to the desired outcome. Physiologically, some patients may be poor candidates for extensive grafting, or they may simply decline such treatment on emotional or financial grounds. Narrow-diameter implants (NDIs) would be beneficial to decrease the rate of augmentations necessary for implant insertion. NDI is an implant with a diameter less than 3.75 mm and is clinically indicated in specific conditions of rehabilitation such as a reduced interradicular bone, thin alveolar crest, or replacing teeth with a small cervical diameter [3]. The availability of residual bone width less than 5 mm is also indicative for the use of NDIs. Several studies have reported the use of narrow-diameter implants in different clinical situations and using different surgical techniques [4–9]. In most cases, satisfactory results have been obtained, achieving medium- and long-term cumulative survival rates equivalent to those obtained in restorations using larger diameter implants (between 94 and 100% survival rates). Until now, the use of NDIs has been restricted to certain defined indications with comparable low occlusal loading like incisors or as retaining elements for overdentures. Posterior regions of the jaws with reduced bone quantity make it challenging to rehabilitate without the use of complex reconstruction techniques.

The aim of this cohort study was to evaluate the outcome of narrow-diameter implants (2.75 and 3.25 mm diameter) used as definitive implants in patients with insufficient bone ridge thickness for placing standard-diameter implants in posterior regions of the mandible. The present study reports the clinical outcome up to 1 year after loading. It is planned to follow up this patients’ cohort to the fifth year of function in order to evaluate the success of the procedure over time. The present article is reported according to the STROBE statement for improving the quality of observational studies (http://www.strobe-statement.org).

The present prospective study was conducted at a private practice (Tommaso Grandi, Modena) in Italy between October 2014 and January 2016.

Any patient with partial edentulism in posterior regions of mandible (premolar/molar areas), requiring one multiple tooth implant-supported restoration (2-, 3-, or 4-unit bridge), having a residual bone height of at least 8 mm and a thickness of at least 4 mm measured on computerized tomography (CT) scans, and who was 18 or older and able to sign an informed consent form, was eligible for inclusion in this trial. Preoperative periapical X-rays were used for initial screening, followed by computer tomography scans to precisely quantify the amount of bone. Patients were not admitted in the study if any of the following exclusion criteria was present: (1) general contraindications to implant surgery, (2) residual bone thickness greater than 5 mm, (3) subjected to irradiation in the head and neck area, (3) treated or under treatment with intravenous amino-bisphosphonates, (4) poor oral hygiene and motivation, (5) untreated periodontitis, (6) uncontrolled diabetes, (7) pregnant or lactating, (8) substance abusers, and (9) lack of opposite occluding dentition in the area intended for implant placement. The principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki on clinical research involving human subjects were adhered to. All patients received thorough explanations and signed a written informed consent before being enrolled in the trial. Forty-two patients were consecutively recruited and treated in a private dental practice by one operator (Tommaso Grandi, who performed all the surgical and prosthetic interventions). All patients underwent at least one session of oral hygiene instructions and professionally delivered debridement when required prior to the intervention. Anti-microbial prophylaxis was obtained with 1 g of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid (Augmentin, Roche S.p.A., Milan, Italy) every 12 h from the day before surgery to the sixth postsurgical day. Patients allergic to penicillin were given clarithromycin 500 mg (Klacid, Abbott srl, Roma, Italy) 1 h before the intervention and 250 mg twice a day for one week. On the day of surgery, patients were treated under local anesthesia. Full-thickness crestal flaps were elevated with a minimal extension to reduce patient discomfort. The implant sites were prepared according to the procedure recommended by the implant manufacturer (JDentalCare, Modena, Italy). Tapered narrow-diameter implants titanium grade 5 (2.75 and 3.25 mm diameter, respectively, JDIcon Ultra S and JDEvolution S, JDentalCare) with internal connection and sandblasted and acid-etched treated surface were used (Fig. 1a, b). No bone flattening was performed. The implants were inserted in the bone without any fenestration/dehiscence. The implant neck was positioned at the coronal marginal crest level. The operator was free to choose implant lengths (8, 10, 11.5, and 13 mm) and diameter (2.75 and 3.25 mm) according to clinical indications. One implant for each missing tooth was requested to be inserted. Healing abutments were attached, and implants were left to a nonsubmerged healing. Interrupted sutures were placed using a synthetic monofilament thread (Vycril, Ethicon, Johnson & Johnson, Somerville, New Jersey) and were removed after 10 days. After 3 months, all the implants underwent the standard prosthetic protocol and were loaded directly with definitive screw-retained or cemented multiple splinted crowns.

Statistical analysis was performed using the statistical package StatView (version 5.01.98, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Significance was considered at p < 0.05. The paired-samples t test was used to evaluate the bone level changes. The patient was the statistical unit of the analysis. A medical doctor (GG) with expertise in dental biostatistics analyzed the data.

Forty-eight patients were screened for eligibility, but six subjects were not included for the following reasons: five patients (10.4%) were hesitant to receive implant treatment, and one patient (2.1%) was treated with intravenous amino-bisphosphonates. Forty-two patients were then considered eligible and were consecutively enrolled in the study. All patients were treated according to the allocated intervention, no dropout occurred up to 1 year after loading, and the data of all patients were evaluated in the statistical analysis.

Patients were recruited and operated from October 2014 to January 2016.

Marginal bone level changes

The radiographic data are summarized in Tables 3 and 4. The group lost statistically significant marginal peri-implant bone at 6 months (−0.20; 95% C −0.14: −0.26, p < 0.0001) and 1-year post-loading (−0.47; 95% CI −0.29: −0.65, p < 0.0001), respectively. The marginal bone level changes were not different between the different implant diameters used, 2.75 and 3.25 mm (p = 0.786) (Table 4).

Follow-up	Mean bone level (mm) (n = 124)	Time
		0–6 months (95% CI) (n = 121)	0–12 months (95% CI) (n = 121)
Baseline	0.01 ± 0.06	−0.20 (−0.14; −0.26)	−0.47 (−0.29; −0.65)
6 months	0.21 ± 0.10	p < 0.0001	p < 0.0001
12 months	0.48 ± 0.29

Diameter 2.75 mm
Follow-up	Mean bone level changes (mm) (n = 69)	0–6 months (95% CI) (n = 67)	0–12 months (95% CI) (n = 67)	p inter-groups
Baseline	0.02 ± 0.07	−0.18 (−0.09; −0.27)	−0.47 (−0.27; −0.67)	p = 0.786
6 months	0.20 ± 0.12	p intra-group
12 months	0.49 ± 0.30	p < 0.0001	p < 0.0001
Diameter 3.25 mm
Follow-up	Mean bone level changes (mm) (n = 55)	0–6 months (95% CI) (n = 54)	0–12 months (95% CI) (n = 54)
Baseline	0.00 ± 0.11	−0.22 (−0.10; −0.34)	−0.48 (−0.25; −0.71)
6 months	0.22 ± 0.14	p intra-group
12 months	0.48 ± 0.33	p = 0.001	p < 0.0001

Figures 2 and 3 show the clinical situations before and after treatment in two patients involved in the study.

Dental implants with a reduced diameter are commonly used where bone width is narrow or in cases of restricted mesiodistal anatomy such as laterally maxillary and mandibular incisors. They could also be a viable alternative to bone augmentation especially in challenging situations such as the posterior regions of the mandible. While it has been shown that it is possible to horizontally augment bone in mandible with different procedures, these techniques are associated with significant postoperative morbidity and complications, can be expensive and technique sensitive, and require long treatment periods. Narrow-diameter implants could be simpler, cheaper, and faster alternative to horizontal bone augmentation in the mandible, if they will provide similar success rates. This cohort study was designed to evaluate whether NDIs (2.75 and 3.25 mm diameter) could be used to support partially fixed prostheses in posterior mandibles having insufficient bone ridge thickness for placing standard-diameter implants. At 1-year post loading, implant survival rate was 97.6%, the number of complications was low, and the implants lost an average of 0.47 mm of peri-implant bone. The present data are similar to those observed around other implant systems used in the similar condition. Malo et al. [6] reported a 95.1% survival rate after 11 years of function for narrow-diameter implants (3.3 mm diameter) placed in posterior regions of both jaws. The values for marginal bone resorption recorded in this study at 1, 5, and 10 years (not exceeding 0.2 mm/year of bone loss after the first year) are within the accepted standard success criteria for implants. Regarding the implant failures, the majority occurred in the first 6 months of function, following the pattern for standard-diameter implants. In another retrospective study, Anitua et al. [10] observed a survival rate of 97.3% for 2.5 mm diameter implants used as definitive implants for rehabilitation of missing teeth having a follow-up between 3 and 7 years.

Klein et al., in a recent systematic review, reported that the survival rate of implants with a diameter of < 3 mm was higher than 90% with a follow-up time between 1 and 3 years [3]. In another meta-analysis by Ortega-Oller et al., the majority of the analyzed studies (implants less than 3.3 mm in diameter) have also reported a survival/success rate higher than 90% [11]. However, the results of the meta-analysis have shown higher failure rates for implants with a diameter of < 3.3 mm when compared with implants with a diameter of ≥ 3.3 mm. The authors have related this outcome with the fact that NDIs are usually placed in complicated clinical scenario, and they have a higher possibility of fracture.

On the one hand, due to the small sample size of this study and moreover, the short follow-up (only 1 year after loading), it would be hazardous to conclude that the placement of NDIs to support fixed prostheses in posterior mandible is a predictable treatment modality. In order to draw more reliable conclusions, we need to wait for longer follow-ups, since it may be possible that after several years of function, NDI implants might start to fail due to the reduced available bone-implant contact area or to reduce resistance to fatigue. The placement in the posterior mandible of 2.75 mm diameter implants, as well as 3.25 mm ones, must always be splinted with a bridge, placing one implant for each missing tooth. The placement of a NDI implant in a single molar crown is not recommended. Splinting multiple implants has been reported to minimize the lateral force on the prosthesis, to enhance force distribution, and to reduce the stress on the implants [10]. Thus, splinting of NDI implants would protect the implants from excessive loading and prevent implant/abutment screw fracture. Necessary measures should be taken to minimize off-axis forces like reduction in occlusal table and cusp inclines.

The main limitation of the present study is the small sample size. In addition, a 1-year follow-up is too short to make definitive statements on the predictability of the treatment option tested. Longer follow-up periods and larger sample size are needed, and this trial is currently ongoing.

Within the limits of this prospective cohort study, narrow-diameter implants (2.75 to 3.25 mm) can be successfully used as a minimally invasive alternative to horizontal bone augmentation in posterior mandible up to 1 year of function. This outcome could be related to the fact that these implants have been all splinted to other implants by a fixed prosthesis. These preliminary results must be confirmed by larger and longer follow-ups of 5 years or more.