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Bone Loss Around Implant: Another Case

Last Updated: Feb 12, 2018

There was a case posted some time ago with marginal bone loss around the implant. Some said the bone loss was due to the Legacy 3 abutment-implant connection. Others thought it was due to surgical errors, mainly placing an implant with inadequate buccal bone. Some even suggested the grafting material was the issue.

Here is a case with Legacy 3 implant, done in 2014, with 3.5 years loading. I have no connection with Implant Direct and I also use other brands, like Nobel Biocare, Zimmer and BioHorizon and their abutments.

In this case, the tooth was extracted, an allograft was placed in the socket and the implant was placed 5 months later. The marginal bone level is not so bad, with no loss since implant placement. Could the case have been done better? Maybe. The implant here is a Legacy 3 and it is stable. So is the Legacy 3 abutment-implant connection bad? No. Is allograft a bad material? No. Can we do this case with other material? Yes. But, the current results are quite good.

Showing a case that has not worked out well is difficult and takes courage. If there is adequate documentation and radiographs, we can study the case, look for answers and we can all benefit.I hope this little case helps a bit.

2 Comments on Bone Loss Around Implant: Another Case

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Eward

2/13/2018

I have used multiple implant companies as well. Zimmer, Straumann, 3i and Implant Direct Legacy II and III. I truly see no differences in success of integration even with the companies each showing all their data and why their implants should have the highest success rates. As dentists. we have the choice to pick which company to use. For the most part, if you follow good implant protocols you will have high success rates, but failures do happen. As a famous OMFS once stated "if you have no implant failures, you haven't placed enough implants." I have been very lucky for the past two years and have had no implant failures until a few weeks ago. A patient who I have previously placed 2 implants(#13 and #19) a few years ago, had two implants #3 and #5 fail to integrate. I used the same surgical protocols and the same implants with good primary stability, yet the implants failed to integrate. Why? Don't know. I simply removed them, debrided the site and prepared it for new implants to be placed in a few months. I explained the situation to the patient and he is fine to try again. I have been placing implants for over 15 years and have had very high success rates, which is likely true for everyone placing implants. I agree, well documented failures are a great way to learn, study and improve our techniques. This requires us to be only scientific in our responses, to help other providers not to be nervous about posting failures.

implant guy

2/16/2018

totally agree with Eward above. well said. Gordon Christensen's CR Report has said time and time again, if you are not looking at the value brands of implants, like Implant Direct, you are missing out, and over paying. The big players have been robbing you for many years. It's a new day. It costs the same amount of money to mill titanium. The extra you are paying if for fluff. marketing, tradeshow budgets, rep/mgr salaries, and podium power. Don't be fooled.

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