Peri-implant Health of Dental Implants in the Posterior Region; an Evaluation After 10 Years

The study design is an observational study of a group of 126 patients which were treated 10 years ago with a dental implant and an implant-supported restoration because of a missing tooth in the posterior region.

• Inclusion criteria:
• Patients referred to the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 10 years ago and treated with a dental implant and an implant-supported restoration because of having a missing tooth in the posterior region. At the time of treatment:
• The patient was 18 years or older;
• The missing tooth was a premolar or molar in maxilla or mandible;
• Sufficient healthy and vital bone to insert a dental implant with a minimum length of 8.5 mm and at least 4.0 mm in diameter with initial stability > 45 Ncm
• The implant site was free from infection;
• Adequate oral hygiene (modified plaque index and modified sulcus bleeding index ≤ 1);
• Sufficient mesio-distal, bucco-lingual, and interocclusal space for placement of an anatomic restoration;
• The patient was capable of understanding and giving informed consent.
• Exclusion criteria at the time of treatment:
• Medical and general contraindications for the surgical procedures;
• Presence of an active and uncontrolled periodontal disease;
• Bruxism;
• Smoking
• A history of local radiotherapy to the head and neck region.

All patients were 10 years ago referred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (University of Groningen, University Medical Hospital) because of having a missing tooth in the posterior region and were treated with a dental implant. Patients will have a regular routine control visit (as part of regular follow-up of these patients). All data to be collected are part of the routine visit and collected regularly at earlier routine visits, except for the questionnaire. The questionnaire contains a limited number of questions with respect to satisfaction with the function of the implant-supported restoration. If patients are willing to participate (to use their research data and to fill in the questionnaire), they will be asked to give informed consent by signing a form. After signing, they will be included in the 10-years evaluation as participant. The forms will be collected in the CRF and in the medical record it will be noted that patient has signed the informed consent. Data will be collected during the routine control visit; patients will not have an extra visit for data collection.