A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON THE OUTCOMES OF DENTAL IMPLANTS IN ROUTINE CLINICAL PRACTICE

Abstract

Objectives: Dental implants have evolved as new treatment modality for the majority of patients and are expected to play a significant role in oral rehabilitation. The present study was to evaluate the outcomes of dental implants in routine clinical practice at dental OPD of Mithila minority Dental College and Hospital, Darbhanga, Bihar, India. Methods: All the patients were clinically examined, diagnostic radiographs were evaluated and the patients were operated on general guide lines for implant therapy. On the day of surgery, a full thickness incision was utilised in the region of interest using #15c surgical scalpel. Following the primary incisions, flaps were elevated, implant sites were prepared and implants were inserted according to the manufacturer’s instructions. In cases of need, appropriate grafts (xenograft/allograft or autologous bone) and collagen membranes were used. The flaps were repositioned and sutured with single interrupted sutures using non-resorbable silk sutures. Follow-up visits were planned as at 1, 3, 6, 12 months and yearly.  Dental implant survival after at least 1 year of function, and marginal bone level (MBL) change around implants were evaluated. MBL changes were measured at each centre by an evaluator with expertise in radiographs assessment. Results: The study included 213 patients (110 male and 103 female) who had 403 implants inserted at dental OPD. Mean age was 52.54±15.23 years. The mean follow-up period from the date of the implant surgery was 44.23 ±10.45 months. The mean follow-up period from the date of loading with prosthesis was 43.35± 9.82 months. The mean healing period from the date of the implant surgery and the date of loading was 4.12±1.74 months. Maximum implant (19.05%) was inserted at site 16 of maxilla. While, maximum implants (19.69%) were inserted at site of 38 of mandibles. The overall survival rate of implants was 99.75%. Conclusions: Patient’s age, gender, and associated diseases showed no significant influence on implant outcome. Proper diagnosis and patient-specific treatment plan can help to achieve successful oral rehabilitation outcomes for dental implants.