SOME CLINICAL AND RADIOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF SUBMERGED AND NON-SUBMERGED TITANIUM IMPLANTS - A 5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

The present study reports on the results of a follow-up examination of patient material, 5 years after the installation of the fixed supraco nstruction. The patient group comprised 11 individuals. Briefly, a spl it-mouth technique of treatment was used, In the right side of the man dible the traditional 2-step surgical approach for implant installatio n was used. In the left jaw quadrant a 1-step surgical procedure was u sed. A clinical and radiographical examination tvas performed 5 years after the initial connection of the supraconstruction to the implants. At the 5-year follow-up examination all 61 implants examined at the 1 8-month follow-up were still in service and found to be clinically sta ble irrespective of the surgical procedure used. Furthermore, the resu lts of the present clinical and radiographical follow-up study demonst rate that the marginal bone level at implants placed anteriorly in the edentulous mandible and supporting fixed supraconstructions is stable between 18 and 60 months irrespective of whether placed according to a 1-step or 2-step surgical procedure.