Abstract
Statement of Problem. Low scientific evidence is identified in the literature for combining implant placement in fresh extraction sockets with immediate function. Moreover, the few studies available on immediate implants in postextraction sites supporting immediate full-arch rehabilitation clearly lack comprehensive protocols. Purpose. The purpose of this study is to report outcomes of a comprehensive protocol using CAD-CAM technology for surgical planning and fabrication of a surgical template and to demonstrate that immediate function can be easily performed with immediate implants in postextraction sites supporting full-arch rehabilitation. Material and Methods. 14 subjects were consecutively rehabilitated (13 maxillae and 1 mandible) with 99 implants supporting full-arch fixed prostheses followed between 6 and 24 months (mean of 16 months). Outcome measures were prosthesis and implant success, biologic and prosthetic complications, pain, oedema evaluation, and radiographic marginal bone levels at surgery and then at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results. The overall cumulative implant survival rate at mean follow-up time of 16 months was 97.97%. The average marginal bone loss was 0,9 mm. Conclusions. Within the limitations of this study, the results validate this treatment modality for full-arch rehabilitations with predictable outcomes and high survival rate after 2 years.
1. Introduction
For 40 years, the use of osseointegrated implants has shown to be a supplementary modality for treating full or partial edentulism [1]. Since the early 1990s, providing shorter treatment periods to patients has become a major focus first via the one-stage surgical technique [2] and then through the immediate loading protocol [3]. Delivering a fixed prosthesis on the same day of the last extractions supported by immediate implants has quickly become a major challenge. Patients can therefore never be left without teeth and the treatment length is ultimately shortened.
These protocols provide multiple benefits [4]: (1) only one surgical session, (2) immediate loading of a temporary prosthesis allowing for a reduction of the patient’s discomfort and facilitating his return to social and professional life, (3) avoiding the resorption of hard tissues, the two-thirds of this reduction occurring during the first 3 months, (4) guiding the soft tissue healing for an optimal aesthetic environment and minimal recession, and (5) taking advantage of the extraction socket healing potential.
Nevertheless, if treatments by immediate implants associated with deferred loading have a long clinical history [5] and offer good results [6], low scientific evidence exists for their combination with immediate function.
The published clinical results are somewhat unsettled. Balshi and Wolfinger 1997 [7] and then Chaushu et al. 2001 [8] obtained success rates of 80% and 82.4%, respectively, for immediately loaded implants in postextraction sites. More encouraging results were reported by Cooper et al. 2002 [9] as well as by Grunder 2001 [10] with survival rates of 100% and 97.3%, respectively, for similar protocols in the mandible. However, it was reported by de Sanctis et al. 2009 [11] that in spite of achieving predictable osteointegration when implants were placed in fresh extraction sockets, the occurrence of buccal bone resorption may limit the use of this surgical approach.
More recently, Villa and Rangert 2005 [12] reported a 100% success rate for the treatment of 20 patients with 97 implants placed in postextraction sites and combined with early function. They demonstrated that, with an appropriate biomechanical, surgical, and medical protocol considering preservation of high implant stability and controlled inflammatory response, implants may be successfully osseointegrated when immediately placed and early-loaded in postextraction sites.
Moreover, the few studies available on immediate implants in postextraction sites supporting immediate full-arch rehabilitation are focused on the surgical part of the procedure and clearly lacked comprehensive prosthetic protocols whereas the NobelGuide concept (NobelBiocare AB) presents a step by step treatment procedure that is known to be meticulous and successful [13]. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a protocol combining a computed tomographic scan-derived surgical template with an immediate implant placement in postextraction sites together with immediate temporization and loading.
2. Materials and Methods
In this prospective case series study, clinical and radiological data analysis were carried out over a two and half years period, on a total of 14 consecutively treated subjects (mean age 58.14 years) to be restored with fixed full arches prosthesis: 6 women and 8 men were treated via immediate implantation combined to CAD-CAM technology (NobelGuide, NobelBiocare AB).
2.1. Inclusion Criteria
The authors defined the following inclusion criteria in patient selection:(1)noncontributory medical history such as uncontrolled diabetes, and osteoporosis.(2)adequate bone volume and density for conventional dental implant placement as determined by CBCT without the need for bone or soft-tissue grafts,(3)patients requiring clearance of all remaining maxillary teeth,(4)no infected sockets.
2.2. Exclusion Criteria
Consider the following:(1)heavy smokers and/or confirmed bruxing subjects,(2)the total or partial lack of the above 4 inclusion criteria.During preliminary evaluation, medical history and subjects’ consent were collected. Preliminary screenings, including intraoral and panoramic radiographs, were performed. Eligible subjects received oral hygiene instructions. A total of 99 implants with external hexagon (NobelSpeedy and NobelBiocare AB) and oxidized surface (Ti-unite Groovy and NobelBiocare AB) were inserted and loaded immediately after surgery via previously manufactured lab-made prosthesis (Table 1). All surgeries were performed by one clinician and procedures were preplanned according to the collected data. Outcome measures were prosthesis and implant success, biologic and prosthetic complications, pain, oedema, and radiographic marginal bone levels evaluation at surgery and then at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.
2.3. Protocol
Impressions were made as for conventional partial removable denture, followed by intermaxillary relation registration. A trial denture was fabricated, tried in subject’s mouth to validate the accuracy of the interarch relationship, and then processed to obtain a radiographic template according to the NobelGuide protocol (e.g., with at least 6 radiographic markers) (Figure 1). A first cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was made with the radiographic template in place.
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The remaining teeth were removed from the master model. Ridge (shape and volume) were regularized according to both the clinical findings and the CBCT findings (Figure 2). Two parameters were of particular consideration, the data collected during the periodontal examination and the prosthetic needs. The clinical findings included the probing depth, initial radiographic survey, and the preliminary planning following the first CBCT. In case of reduced prosthetic space, an additional osteotomy was performed but with caution, as resorption inevitably follows any surgical procedure. Still, a subcrestal leveling of the implants at the planning phase was programmed with implant platform positioned 2 mm under the coronal part of the vestibular alveolar crest.
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Teeth that have been removed on the modified master model were replaced with denture teeth. The radiographic template was also altered so to be used for a second CBCT (e.g., scanning of the prosthesis itself) without any modification of the radiographic markers’ position.
Finally, subject’s data and prosthesis data were loaded into the Procera software (ProceraCadDesign, NobelBiocare AB) and a high resolution 3D model was then created. Planning was performed according to conventional protocols. However, it seemed to be more effective with this immediate implants procedure (Figure 3) for the following reasons: (1) implant’s length and diameter were easier to choose to assure enough primary bone anchorage, (2) remaining bone areas could be used more effectively, and (3) implant positioning was made according to the prosthetic project which was perhaps the most difficult objective to fulfill in such procedures. Otherwise, the implant placement would be more dependent on the remaining bone volume than on the prosthetic project and the procedure a hands-free one. The surgical template was ordered and data were also used to prepare a master model that allows for the fabrication of an all-acrylic resin fixed prosthesis (Figure 4) before the surgical session.
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2.4. Surgery
The surgical procedure was performed under local anesthesia with articaine chlorhydrate containing epinephrine 1 : 100,000 (Alpha spe, Dentsply). All subjects were sedated with diazepam (Valium 10 mg, Roche, Basel, Switzerland). Antibiotics amoxicillin 875 mg and clavulanic acid 125 mg (Augmentin 2 g, Glaxo Smith Kline) were given 1 hour prior to surgery and daily for 6 days thereafter. Corticoids (Solupred 60 mg, Sanofi Aventis) were administered daily from the day of surgery until 4 days postoperatively. Analgesics, 500 mg mefenamic acid (Ponstan Forte, Wilton ParkHouse, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland), were given on the day of surgery and postoperatively for the first 4 days if needed.
Three stages were followed in the procedure (Figure 5).(1)As with immediate complete denture cases, the remaining teeth were extracted, followed by osteotomy and/or soft tissue management when needed [14]. This regularization allowed for correct repositioning of the soft tissues close to the conditions of an edentulous ridge. It was reported from the master cast to the mouth via a transparent replica of the surgical stereolithographic guide (NobelGuide), fabricated in occlusion. Once made, these corrections secured an exact repositioning of the stereographic guide on the ridge.(2)Positioning of the surgical template in the correct interarch relationship. The difficulties of repositioning the vestibular flap were countered by a strict positioning of the surgical guide(s) in the correct interarch relation for a precise transfer of the surgical planning.(3)Implant placement per se. Implant length ranged from 7 to 13 mm.
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2.5. Prosthetic Procedure
Expandable abutments (Guided Abutments, NobelBiocare AB) were mounted in the provisional restoration. The bridge was then positioned over the implants and screw-retained by manual tightening. The correct abutment connection was checked visually (Figure 5) and assessed radiographically. The correct centric relation was verified and minor occlusal adjustments were performed when needed (Figure 6). The abutment screws were then tightened to 35 Ncm.
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The subjects were enrolled in an implant maintenance program (Table 2) and a soft diet was instructed for 2 months. After 4 months, the prostheses were removed and the implants were individually tested for stability. If the implants were judged stable, the definitive fixed prosthesis was made as follows: two ceramic restorations (Procera Implant Bridge Zirconia, Nobel Biocare AB), seven metal-ceramic restorations, and fife hybrid prostheses (Figure 7).
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2.6. Follow-Up
No subjects dropped out of this study. Subjects were examined at 1 week and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the surgery. Examination included the assessment of prosthesis stability, peri-implant soft-tissue conditions, correct occlusion, and individual implant stability with the prosthesis removed at the 4-month follow-up.
To be classified as surviving, the implants were required to fulfill the following criteria: clinical stability, subject reported function without any discomfort, absence of suppuration, infection, or radiolucent areas around the implants.
Periapical radiographs (Figure 8) were made at implant insertion and then at 6-month intervals. The film was oriented with a conventional radiograph holder (Rinn XCP, Dentsply Rinn), manually positioned for an estimated orthogonal position of the film. An independent radiologist unaffiliated with the clinic interpreted the radiographs. The reference point for the reading was the implant platform. Marginal bone remodeling was calculated as the difference between readings at the examination and the baseline value at time of surgery. The radiographs were grouped as follows: implant insertion, 6 months, 1-year follow-up, 1-year and half follow-up, and 2-year follow-up. Implant survival and bone resorption data were analyzed with descriptive statistics.
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3. Results
Implant survival rates are presented in Table 3. The cumulative survival rate at 2 years was 97.97%. Sixty six implants have passed the 1- to 2-year follow-up. The mean follow-up time was 16.15 months.
Two implants in two different subjects were lost after 4 months at time of substituting the provisional restorations with the permanent ones: one implant in the first molar position in one heavy bruxing subject and the other in the second premolar position and that already was not stable at the time of placement. Both implants were reinserted and were not included in the statistical analysis. The prosthesis in these two subjects survived with the support of the remaining implants.
Twelve subjects experienced slight postoperative pain and two subjects experienced moderate or severe pain. Slight oedema was recorded for 11 subjects and moderate or severe oedema for the remaining three.
Three subjects experienced fracture of the transitional acrylic resin prostheses. One of them practically did not follow the instructions of soft food diet in the first few months. The handling of these problems necessitated the repair of the prostheses, adjustment of occlusion, and night guard fabrication. No further mechanical complications occurred.
The radiographic assessment of marginal bone level concerning the 66 implants available at the end of the 2-year follow-up period showed a mean marginal bone loss of approximately 0,9 mm.
4. Discussion
Immediate implant placement in fresh extraction sockets has been investigated in several clinical studies, showing clear scientific evidence that osseointegration may be successfully achieved [11, 15]. Later, the growing need for avoiding temporary removable prostheses after surgery led to considering immediate loading of implants inserted in fresh extraction sockets, even in the chronically infected alveolar bone [16]. However, the few studies available on immediate implants in postextraction sites supporting immediate full-arch rehabilitation show lack of homogeneity and comprehensive protocols [17].
The number of studies investigating the clinical and radiological outcome of guided implant placement seems to confirm the high predictability of 3D planning software and indicate that immediate loading of oral implants yield acceptable to excellent results in full arch prosthetic restorations [14].
This preliminary study clearly demonstrates the high precision of transferring the virtual planning to the surgical field via the computer-aided technology even with extractions performed in the same surgical session. As in any extraction/implantation procedure, a judicious selection of the clinical case is essential for success. The presence of enough supra-alveolar bone is crucial for the primary stability of the fixture.
The benefits provided by computer-based planning seem to be superior with immediate implants cases in postextraction sites. Even without the use of the surgical template, there is a better match between the planned and the used implant when planning is done in a three-dimensional mode [18–20]. The preoperative choice of correct implant length and diameter can provide good primary stability through maximum filling of the extraction sockets and optimal engagement of the extra-apical alveolar bone. While no axial instability of any of the implants was observed, the insertion of some of the implants blocked at couples inferior to the recommended 35 Ncm. No adverse consequences were seen as these implants were connected to the others via a passive prosthesis. Knowing that primary stability measurements show significant correlations with different bone densities [21–23], the lesser density in the edentulous posterior regions could explain the encountered problems of stability, in opposition to the extraction sites where it was possible to engage in the nasal cortical bone.
Other benefits of guided implant planning and placement can be noted. (1) The remaining bone volume is used with more efficiency and predictability, (2) implant placement is made according to the prosthetic plan, and (3) the immediate cross-arch splinting of the freshly installed implant, another key factor for success [18, 19, 24–26], is easily obtained via the prefabricated prosthesis [27, 28].
The changes in marginal bone level were similar to those observed in the studies of Ganeles and Wismeijer in 2004 [24] and Glauser et al. in 2005 [25] on immediate loading and of Sanna et al. in 2007 on immediate loading and flapless surgery [26]. It can therefore be concluded that the applied protocol may improve the results of such prosthetic treatments renowned to be complex and unpredictable. It also offers a more adequate biomechanical environment for the implants, one that is “prosthetically driven.”
However, the successful use of this approach requires advanced clinical experience, surgical judgment, and proper case selection. Further studies with larger sample size, including control groups (full-arch immediate implant rehabilitations with delayed healing or with the absence of extraction sockets), are necessary to confirm the suggested protocol.
5. Conclusion
Within the limitations of this study, combining a computed tomographic scan-derived surgical template to an immediate implant placement in postextraction sites together with immediate temporization and loading seems to be a predictable therapy, with high survival rate at 2-year period and valid functional and aesthetic results when applied in selected cases.
The applied protocol provides a safer procedure for both surgeon and patient and may become the gold standard for such treatments.
More clinical trials and follow-up studies are necessary before final conclusions can be drawn in relation to the long-term safety and efficacy of this proposed protocol.
Conflict of Interests
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.