Survival Rates and Risk Factors of Resorbable Blast Media Surface Dental Implants: A Retrospective Cohort Study with an Average 60-Month Follow-Up.

Abstract

Purpose: This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the survival rates and risk factors associated with Resorbable Blast Media (RBM) surface dental implants. The study involved 1,130 implants placed in 260 patients, with a follow-up ranging from a minimum of 26 months to a maximum of 120 months, for an average of 60 months.

Materials and methods: 1,130 RBM surface implants with hybrid macro-geometry were placed in 260 patients. Implant survival and failure rates were analyzed over an average 60-month follow-up. Failure rates were examined based on implant length, patient gender, and sinus lift procedures. Additional factors, including patient age, implant placement timing (immediate vs. delayed), guided bone regeneration (GBR), implant diameter, and implant location, were assessed to determine their impact on long-term implant success.

Results: The overall survival rate for the implants was 94.4%, with most failures occurring within the first 12 months postplacement. Male patients experienced significantly higher failure rates (7.36%) than female patients (4.0%). Short implants (8 mm) were particularly vulnerable to failure, with an 8.65% failure rate. Sinus augmentation procedures also presented an increased risk, with 10% failure for lateral sinus augmentation and 9.78% for crestal sinus elevation. In contrast, factors such as patient age, timing of implant placement, GBR, implant diameter, and implant location did not significantly influence failure rates. Notably, narrow-diameter implants (3.3 and 3.7 mm; n=97) in the molar region did not increase the risk of failure, with only 5 experiencing failure. Failures post-prosthetic loading were most common after about 3 years.

Conclusions: This study confirms the long-term viability of RBM surface implants, with high survival rates when early failures are mitigated. Short implants and sinus lift procedures pose greater risks of failure, particularly in the early stages. However, simultaneous GBR and sinus procedures did not significantly impact long-term outcomes, affirming the safety and efficacy of these complex interventions.