NON-SUBMERGED IMPLANTS IN THE TREATMENT OF THE EDENTULOUS LOWER JAW -A 2-YEAR LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

Non-submerged ITI Benefit implants (ITI Dental Implant System) were in serted in edentulous lower jaws of 46 patients. The patients were prov ided with either a fixed prosthesis or an overdenture, and has been fo llowed during a 2-year-period. Al the 1-year examination, the suprastr uctures were removed permitting test of the individual implant stabili ty. Radiographic examinations were performed in connection with the lo ading of the implants and at the 1-year examination. In total 216 impl ants were inserted. 4 implants were lost before loading and 4 during t he 2nd year of function, which gives a survival rate after 1 year of 9 8% and after 2 years of 96%. The mean marginal bone loss during the fi rst year of function was 0.1 mm. However, the marginal bone changes ha d a high degree of variation and four implants showed a severe bone lo ss. The intention is to follow this patient group with annual examinat ions during 5 years.