CLINICAL AND RADIOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF SUBMERGED AND NONSUBMERGED TITANIUM IMPLANTS

A clinical and radiographical study was performed to evaluate whether initial submergence of titanium fixtures is an obligate treatment meas ure for the establishment of proper bone anchorage when implants a.m. Branemark are used, The sample was comprised of 11 subjects with edent ulous mandibles. A split-mouth design was employed; in the right mandi bular quadrant a traditional 2-step procedure for fixture installation and abutment connection was utilized, while in the left quadrant a 1- step procedure was carried out, i.e., fixtures were placed and abutmen ts were connected in one and the same session. Three to 4 months after fixture installation, fixed bridgeworks were fabricated and rigidly c onnected to the implants. Clinical examinations (including probing poc ket depth, bleeding on probing and implant stability test) were perfor med after 12 and 18 months. Radiographs were taken following insertion of the bridges and at the 12- and 18-month re-examinations. The probi ng pocket depth, the bleeding on probing, the implant stability and th e radiographic determinations were similar for the 2 groups of treatme nt alternatives. This indicates that titanium fixtures a.m. Branemark can be properly anchored (osseointegrated) in mandibular bone and succ essfully used for bridge retention also when a 1-step procedure is use d for implant installation.