Two-Year Retrospective Evaluation of a Unique Restoration for Single Implants

Two-Year Retrospective Evaluation of a Unique Restoration for Single Implants
R. URDANETA, Harvard University, Concord Dental Associates, Concord, MA, USA, M. MARINCOLA, University of Cartagena, AISI, Italian Association of Restorative Implant Dentistry, Rome, Italy, and S.-K. CHUANG, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard School of Public Health, Chestnut Hill.
Copyright ¨© 2004 Bicon
The Integrated Abutment CrownÇ—¢ (IAC) (Bicon, Boston, MA) is a technique for the fabrication of single-tooth implant-supported restorations where the abutment and the crown material are one integral unit without the use of any screws or cement.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the 2-year clinical performance of 151 IACs placed in a general dental practice.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study design was utilized with patients selected from the patient pool at the Implant Dentistry Centre at Faulkner Hospital (Boston, MA). Patients were recalled and the restorations were evaluated following the modified USPHS criteria. The gingival esthetics and the number of restorative appointments were documented. Descriptive statistics and generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) accounting for intra-cluster correlation within the same patient were utilized using SAS-PC (version 8.2, 2001).
Results: A total of 151 implants were restored with IACs on 59 patients, with a mean age of 58.2 years, 62% were placed in the maxilla and 38% placed in the mandible. The 2-year survival rate for IACs was 98.56%. Two IACs were removed, one due to implant failure; all others were rated as either excellent or good for anatomy, surface texture, and color. No IACs were removed due to fractures. Excellent marginal adaptation was observed with no clinically discernible interface between the veneer material and the abutment. Excellent gingival esthetics was observed. Significantly fewer appointments were needed to restore an IAC than a PFM (p<.0001).
Conclusion: The results of this prosthetic evaluation supported the conclusion that the Integrated Abutment CrownÇ—¢ is an excellent choice for the restoration of locking-taper single implants for both anterior and posterior areas of the mouth. IACs are a cost-effective and timesaving alternative to PFMs.
Supported by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation (OMSF) Fellowship in Clinical Investigation (SKC).