Evaluation of survival and success rates of dental implants placed at the time of or after alveolar ridge augmentation with an autogenous mandibular bone graft and titanium mesh: a 3- to 8-year retrospective study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this retrospective longitudinal study was to evaluate the survival and success rates of 56 implants consecutively placed in alveolar ridges following a one- or two-stage augmentative procedure, using autogenous bone and titanium micromeshes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 24 consecutive patients treated with 27 micromeshes and mandibular particulated bone. In 13 patients, 20 implants were placed at the time of the reconstructive procedure. In the remaining 11 patients, 36 implants were positioned in a second surgery 8 to 9 months after grafting. Follow-up data (implant survival, success rate, marginal bone resorption) were collected after 3 to 8 years of prosthetic loading.

RESULTS: Four of the 27 micromeshes (complication rate, 14.8%) were exposed prematurely and were removed before the intended time. The mean vertical bone augmentation obtained was 5.4 +/- 1.81 mm for implants placed in simultaneous procedures and 4.5 +/- 1.16 mm in delayed procedures. None of the 56 implants was lost during the observation period (cumulative implant survival rate, 100%). Radiographic analysis showed stable marginal bone levels, with a mean bone resorption of 1.58 +/- 0.48 mm after 3 to 8 years. Only two implants demonstrated increased bone loss (3.12 and 3.37 mm) over the follow-up period, whereas the remaining 54 implants were considered clinically successful, resulting in a cumulative success rate of 96.4%.

CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that implant placement in augmented ridges using micromeshes and autogenous bone provided satisfactory long-term survival and success rates, with minimal bone resorption.