Narrow-diameter Implants: A Restorative Option for Limited Interdental Space

This week our featured implant abstract is: Narrow-diameter implants: a restorative option for limited interdental space.

The study reports on the results of the use of a screw-retained narrow-diameter implant (NDI) system as an option for implant placement in areas of limited bone volume. This retrospective report followed 48 NDIs in 27 patients for 1 to 5 years post loading. No implant failures were reported, yielding a 100% survival rate. The screw-retained attribute of this system allows retrievability of the restorations, which may require replacement because of porcelain fracture, chipping, or a desire to change color. The three diameters available–1.8 mm, 2.2 mm, and 2.4 mm–allow flexibility for a variety of narrow edentulous spaces. These NDIs present a cost-effective alternative for restoring limited spaces with implant restorations, without the bone augmentation or orthodontic procedures required for conventional fixed restorations. The NDI system is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for long-term use.

Source: Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent. 2007 Oct;27(5):449-55. Froum SJ, Cho SC, Cho YS, Elian N, Tarnow D.

OsseoNews.com Editor invites comments on this abstract. Please add your comment below.

8 Comments on Narrow-diameter Implants: A Restorative Option for Limited Interdental Space

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Dr.Mesgarzadeh
10/25/2008
Dear Dr. as you know mini dental implants are using for this porpose and also for atrophic rigdes , and there are many articles about this issues.In my idea , success rate of this kind of implants depends on the location , direction and amount of the occlusal forces,and kind of prothesis ( fix or removeable ). Best wishes
R. Hughes
10/26/2008
Why not learn how to graft, spread bone etc. and give the patient a better inplant. Also learn how to place a blade implant this includes the STR from Pacific Dental Implant Co. There is more than one way to skin the cat. I know this concept of blades is foreign to many of you but you sometimes, don't know, what you don't know!
Nicholas Varras, CDT
10/27/2008
The patients are not always willing or cannot always afford the added surgeries of bone augmentation. This is an immediate gratification society we live in. When you tell the patient they will need to wait a year before they can stabilize the denture, most are less willing to go through all of the extra surgeries. There are also patients with health problems who can not tolerate some of these extensive surgeries. Narrow diameter implants are not the be all end all, but they do have a place in implant dentistry.
R. Hughes
10/27/2008
In addition to blades, consider interdental subperiosteal implant treatment w/ prp. Check out the work of Dr. Wm. Nordquist.
Dr S Sengupta
11/27/2008
When it comes to upper laterals and lower incisors I think narrow implants are treatment of choice It is exactly what I would do in my own mouth The emergence profile often makes or braks a case aesthetically Very hard to do with 3mm and up diameter implants on the teeth mentioned Check out Imtecs new hybrid implant Some very intresting applications are becoming possible
Colm
1/23/2009
What is the minimum space required between the roots to place a mini implant to replace a lateral incisor?
Colm
1/23/2009
Also, where could I have mini implant work done to replace my lateral incisors? I am in California.
R. Hughes
1/23/2009
The implant should be aprox 3mm. from any adjacent tooth or implant, this is ideal but the real world is sometimes different. You may want to consider the smaller rootforms over mini's. They should be alot stronger and transmit less stress to the crestal bone, be more resistant to breakage and have a greater bone to implant interface. The mini's do not have a sufficient implant to bone interface.

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