Ultrashort sintered porous-surfaced dental implants used to replace posterior teeth

Background: This retrospective multicenter report provides data from a case series of partially edentulous subjects treated with an ultrashort (5-mm-long) sintered porous-surfaced (SPS) dental implant. Methods: The implant used had a tapered truncated cone shape, was 5-mm long, and had a maximal coronal diameter of 5 mm. Twenty-six implants were placed in 20 subjects to replace primarily maxillary and mandibular molar teeth. Submerged primary healing was used. Nine implants were restored with single crowns, one carried a single cantilever, and the remaining 16 implants were part of fixed implant-supported bridges, generally as the most distal abutment. Results: After functional periods of 1 to 8 years, two maxillary implants failed, giving maxillary and mandibular failure rates of 14.3% and 0%, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this case series suggest that an SPS, press-fit, tapered dental implant with a length of 5 mm and a maximal coronal diameter of 5 mm should be investigated further as a solution for the management of highly resorbed posterior sites in partial edentulism, particularly in the mandible.