Radiographic Evaluation of the Bone Remodeling on Tilted Osseointegrated Implants: Follow-up at 1 Year

Aim The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of vertical peri-implant resorption around implants inserted with an inclination increased more than 10° at a distance of at least 1 year from insertion. Materials and methods For the realization of the study, a sample consisting of 47 patients for a total of 115 implants was selected. We excluded all those subjects whose conditions could have compromised the outcome of the treatment. An orthopantomography of the dental arches was made using Orthophos XG 3D Sirona at time T0 (at the end of definitive insertion of prosthesis) and at time T1 (at least 1 year after T0) with the aim of an individualized positioner. In this study, all the implants with inclination equal to or greater than 10° were subdivided into three groups, and the implants with inclination between 0 and 10 were used as control sample. Results In group I, there is a statistically significant difference in at least one of the two sides (distal one) between T0 and T1. In groups II and III, there is a statistically significant difference in the degree of bone resorption on the mesial side with respect to distal side. In group IV, a statistically significant difference on both sides was evidenced. The implant survival at a distance of 1 year was equal to 100% of cases. Conclusion Surgeons must take into account the possibility that an increase in inclination of implants may lead to a more rapid resorption of bone mesially or distally. Clinical significance The direction of the prosthetic load transmitted to the fixture is a variable that could influence the degree of reabsorption of both mesial and distal bone structures according to both laboratory and clinical data.