IMPLANT SURVIVAL RATES IN PARTIALLY EDENTULOUS PATIENTS - A 3-YEAR PROSPECTIVE MULTICENTER STUDY

Purpose: This multicenter investigation is an interim 3-year survival report of a 5-year prospective study using Branemark osseointegrated implants in partially edentulous patients. Materials and Methods: Previously defined patient characteristics and clinical parameters were related to implant survival using lifetable analysis. Results: Three years after prosthesis insertion, 460 implants placed in 139 patients remained in the study. Cumulative success rates for maxillary implants (92.5%) were less than for mandibular implants (94.8%), with an overall cumulative success rate of 93.9%. Conclusion: Failures were associated with poor bone quality, smaller implant sizes, and a higher plaque index, and were more likely to occur before loading, A 4% incidence of residual long-term inferior alveolar nerve paresthesia was higher than previously reported.