Clinical performance and radiographic evaluation of a novel single-piece implant in a private practice over a mean of seventeen months

Statement of problem. A novel 1-piece implant is designed to provide for stable soft tissue, immediate function, and immediate placement in fresh extraction sockets. The purported advantages include less discomfort for the patient, shorter procedure time, and a reduced number of visits as compared to conventional procedures. Clinical documentation is needed to determine whether these advantages can be realized. Purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance and early bone remodeling of the novel 1-piece implant in 1 private general practice. The research hypothesis was that it is possible to achieve similar clinical results using a 1-piece implant instead of the conventional 2-piece implant system with a simpler and more patient pleasing protocol. Material and methods. Ninety-two implants, restoring both single teeth and partially edentulous situations, in 58 consecutively treated patients (35 women and 23 men, between the ages of 21 and 78), were included. Retrospective data on implant position, implant size, bone quality, and baseline radiographs was obtained from patient records, and 46 patients attended an additional prospective follow-up visit at 12 months or longer. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results. No implant failure occurred. After a mean of 17 months the average bone level was positioned at the first thread, which is in accordance with observations for other implants. In general, healthy soft tissue and favorable esthetic outcomes were observed. Conclusions. The favorable implant survival rate and stable bone level together with the esthetic and soft tissue outcomes indicate that this novel 1-piece implant is a viable treatment option. The data support the hypothesis that it is possible to achieve similar clinical results using a 1-piece implant system instead of a 2-piece implant system with a simpler and more patient-pleasing clinical protocol.