Early implant failure rates in the posterior maxilla

Early implant failure rates in the posterior maxilla
11 March 2004
J.R. FRIEDBERG, T. VOGIATZI, D. PERDIKIS, and E. IOANNIDOU, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, USA
IADR
Introduction: Implant placement in the posterior maxilla could be challenging due to the bone quality and bone quantity. Frequently, the bone in the area is type IV and the bone quantity is limited by the presence of the maxillary sinus. Objectives: The purpose of this study was the retrospective analysis of the early implant failures in the posterior maxilla with or without sinus floor elevation. Methods: The study population consists of patients that had implants in the posterior maxilla at the dental clinics of the University of Connecticut Health Center in 1999-2002. The authors reviewed the patient records. The case was excluded when there was no pretreatment periapical radiograph. Results: There were 51 patients (28 females and 23 males) that received 110 implants. 34 sinus floor elevations were performed. 54 implants (group 1) were placed posterior maxilla after sinus floor elevation and 56 implants (group 2) were placed in posterior maxilla without sinus floor elevation. 26 sinus floor elevations were performed with the 2-step antrostomy, 1 sinus floor elevation was performed with the 1-step antrostomy and 12 sinus floor elevations were performed with the osteotome technique. 9 out of 110 implants failed (8.1%). 2 out of 9 failures were late and 7 failures were early. The overall early failure rate was 6.36%. Within the group 1, the early failure rate was 10.7%. Within group 2, the early failure rate was 1.8%. Analysis of the implant length revealed: 8 10mm-implants and 1 8mm-implant failed. No implant with length ¨???12 mm failed in any of the groups. Conclusions: The overall early failure rate in the posterior maxilla was 6.36%. All the implants that failed were short. The study was supported by ITI Foundation Award 306/2003.