Effect of distance between one piece implants on crestal bone resorption

One-piece implants became incorporate the trans-mucosal abutment facing the soft tissues as an integral part of the implant. The interface between the trans-mucosal component and the implant is generally located in the neighbourhood of the alveolar bone level. One-piece implant are usually welded together and immediately loaded. Since no report is available on the effect of distance between implants on clinical outcome, a retrospective study was performed. Nineteen patients (10 females and 9 males) with a median age of 62 years (min-max 43-80) were enrolled. The mean follow-up was 7 months. A total of 176 one-piece implants (Diamond, BIOIMPLANT, Milan, Italy) were inserted. Among them 11 failed (i.e. survival rate - SVR = 93.75). The remaining 165 were studied as regard pen-implant bone resorption. Since 4 fixtures have a crestal bone resorption higher than 1.5 mm, the success rate (SCR) was 97.57. Log rank testing was used to compare success curves. Statistical analysis demonstrated that an average distance between fixtures of about 2 mm does not determine an higher crestal bone resorption when one-piece implants are used. In conclusion one-piece implants are reliable devices for oral rehabilitation and distance between fixtures of about 2 mm does not determine an higher crestal bone resorption