In Favor of Implants: Placements Show Minimal Bone Loss Over Time
In Favor of Implants Placements Show Minimal Bone Loss Over TimeThe American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) announced a 5 year follow up study focused on the evaluation of crestal bone level over time in 596 dental implants placed in 192
In Favor of Implants: Placements Show Minimal Bone Loss Over Time
The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) announced a 5-year follow-up study focused on the evaluation of crestal bone level over time in 596 dental implants placed in 192 patients found the majority of bone remodeling occurred in the time between the implant placement and final prosthesis placement. Subsequently, little mean bone change was observed in the 5 years following the implant placement, independent of type of restoration or implant length.
Study author David Cochran, DDS, PhD, chair of the Department of Periodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and president of the AAP, believes this study provides additional support for the use of dental implants to replace missing teeth.
“As a periodontist, I am committed to saving my patients’ natural dentition whenever possible,” Cochran says. “However, the results of this study help further indicate that a dental implant is an effective and dependable tooth replacement option.
“Since the patient’s host tissue surrounding the dental implant largely remains unchanged in the five years following placement, the dental team can now focus on periodic assessment and treatment of other areas in the mouth as needed, and know that the implant is doing its job as a viable substitute solution.” Patients who participated in the study, conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, were screened for adequate oral hygiene and bone volume. Exclusion criteria included heavy smoking, chewing tobacco use, drug abuse, and untreated periodontal disease, amongst others.
The study appears in the Journal of Periodontology.
Source: AAP
