Early marginal bone loss around three different implant systems: prospective cohort study

Abstract

AIM: To evaluate early bone loss around three different implant systems (Straumann Bone Level. Noble Biocare Replace, 3i Biomet Certain) and compare them to each other in a prospective clinical study using clinical and radiographic measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients were recruited for the study. Three implant systems were included in study design; one system was abandoned due to lack of subjects. Two implant systems (Nobel Biocare Replace n= 12, Straumann Bone Level n= 11) were evaluated. Periodontic residents placed the implants. Radiographic and clinical measurements were obtained at two different time points, at the time of implant placement and at the time of second stage surgery. RESULTS: Mean clinical bone loss was 0.14 ± 0.20 mm, and 0.72 ± 1.02 mm for Straumann and Nobel Biocare respectively. The mean change in the radiographic bone loss for Straumann and Nobel Biocare was 0.23 ± 0.26 mm and 0.53 ± 1.06 mm. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Nobel Biocare Replace tapered implants showed a two and five times higher average bone loss in radiographic and clinical parameters respectively, compared to Straumann implants. However, this difference did not reach statistical significance in either the clinical or the radiographic measurement. It is suggested that study size should be increased.