The efficacy of short (6 mm) dental implants with a novel thread design.

OBJECTIVE: To assess efficacy of short (6 mm) implants with a novel macrostructure and thread design placed in a compromised bone situations of edentulous posterior regions of maxilla (3-4 mm of bone height under sinus floor) as compared to results of clinical situations treated with simultaneous maxillary sinus grafting and placement of long (≥10 mm) implants of the same company.

STUDY DESIGN: Clinical cases of conducted clinical study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with compromised bone height in edentulous posterior regions of maxilla were randomly divided into two groups. Short (6mm length) implant treatment conducted in the test group and simultaneous sinus lift with standard length implant placement treatment in the control group.

RESULTS: In general implant stability quotient (ISQ) and marginal bone level (MBL) changes values in both groups were comparable. However, significant negative correlation was found between implant's diameter and MBL changes.

CONCLUSIONS: Implant's length has little if none impact on initial implant anchorage, especially in greatly compromised residual bone situations. Results have confirmed that implant initial stability mainly depends on implant's macro-design and further its development on implant's micro-design: namely, implant diameter rather than length, tapered shape and improved thread design determines primarily acquired mechanical anchorage, while bioactive surface treatment ensures development of biological stability.