A CLINICAL RETROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF FA HA COATED (BIOCOMP(R)) DENTAL IMPLANTS - RESULTS AFTER 1 YEAR/

In this retrospective clinical evaluation, the performance of loaded t itanium implants with a bilayer bioactive surface coating of the relat ively reactive hydroxylapatite (HA, outer layer) and the more stable f luorapatite (FA, inner layer) was evaluated. 98 consecutive patients w ere included in the study for a total of 354 implants, loaded by overd entures, fixed partial dentures and single tooth replacements. Statist ical analyses revealed a cumulative probability of implant survival on a per patient basis of 94.5% (s.e. 2.7%), one year after implant inst allation. On implants that were lost parts of the bilayer FA/HA coatin g had vanished as a result of primary or secondary infection and subse quently epithelial down growth. Most complications were associated wit h implants placed in the maxilla. Perio-test Values (PTV) were general ly high, indicating adequate osseointegration. The PTV's were statisti cal significantly less favorable in implants placed in the maxilla. Th e most favorable PTV's and gingival index scores were found around imp lants servicing overdentures. Marginal bone loss averaged similar to 2 mm during the observation period. The amount of marginal bone loss cor responded with the distance from the neck of the implant to the first thread of the implant's cervical screw-section. It is concluded that, during the relatively short observation period, the FA/HA coated impla nts function adequately. However, in the absence of a direct implant-t o-bone contact preceding implant loss, part of the FA/HA coating on th e titanium implants generally dissolves.