Narrow-diameter implants: are they a predictable treatment option? A literature review

• Published in: Medicina oral, patología oral y cirugía bucal Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. e74 - e81
• Main Authors: Sierra-Sánchez, José-Luis, Martínez-González, Amparo, García-Sala Bonmatí, Fernando, Mañes-Ferrer, José-Félix, Brotons-Oliver, Alejandro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain Medicina Oral S.L 01.01.2014
• Subjects: Dental Implants; Dentistry; Forecasting; Humans; Prosthesis Design; Review
• ISSN: 1698-6946; 1698-4447; 1698-6946
• DOI: 10.4317/medoral.19306

To evaluate the predictability of narrow-diameter implants as a treatment option in routine clinical practice. A literature review was performed of studies reporting clinical results obtained with these implants. Survival rates, peri-implant bone loss and related complications were evaluated. The working hypothesis was that narrow-diameter implants offer clinical results similar to those obtained with implants of greater diameter. A Medline-PubMed search covering the period between 2002 and 2012 was carried out. Studies published in English and with a follow-up period of at least 12 months were considered for inclusion. A manual search was also conducted in different journals with an important impact factor. results: Twenty-one studies meeting the screening criteria were included in the literature review. A total of 2980 narrow-diameter implants placed in 1607 patients were analyzed. The results obtained from the literature indicate that narrow-diameter implants are a predictable treatment option, since they afford clinical results comparable to those obtained with implants of greater diameter.