Poster Session

(33) Clinical outcomes of narrow-diameter implants in esthetic zone: An exploratory prospective study

Co-Author(s)

SB

Sompop Bencharit, DDS, MS, PhD, FACP

Director of Clinical Research
VCU Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry
Richmond, Virginia, United States
JG

Janina Golob Deeb, DDS, MS

Associate Professor
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia, United States

Lead Author(s)

NR

Nitya Reddy, DDS

Resident
VCU School of Dentistry
Richmond, Virginia, United States

Introduction: Narrow-diameter dental implants are often utilized to restore a single edentulous site in esthetic zone. More recently, immediate provisionalization and digital technology in particular one-day dentistry have presented a modification in routine implant therapy. Little information about how the narrow-diameter implant behaves when immediate provisionalization and digital fabrication using one-day dentistry protocol are applied. The study aimed to evaluate a 2-year clinical outcome of 3.1-mm-diameter dental implants immediately provisionalized and later restored using digital technology.

Methods: Ten patients received a total of 11 ZimVie Estetic 3.1 mm single implants over a 2-year period were included in the study. Each implant was placed and immediately restored with a provisional crown after the placement. At least 2 months after the placement, the implant was restored with a prefabricated titanium abutment and a ceramic crown using one-day dentistry protocol. Clinical outcomes including apical bone loss and gingival index were measured. Surgical and prosthetic complications were documented.

Results: There was no implant failure over the course of 2 years. No surgical complications were reported. Two cases lost provisional crowns during the healing period. One crown needed to be remade due to esthetic concern of grayish abutment showing through the facial tissue. No other prosthetic complications were found.The cumulative 2-year survival rate of the implants was 100%.

Conclusions: This exploratory study suggests that immediate provisionalization and digital workflow for restoring small-diameter implants appear to be predictable clinical procedures. Future studies with larger sample size and longer follow up period should be done to confirm the long term outcomes.

Lead Author’s Contributions to the Research Project: The lead author was responsible for data collection, patient follow ups, and composition of the abstract.