Abstract
Porous-coated endosseous dental implants (EndoporeTM Implant) newly developed, with achievements of the MRC program for dental implantology at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Canada, were initially applied to 35 of Japanese patients as a clinical trial in Japan from July, 1994. This implant has a unique surface geometry with powder-sintered bead layers on the surface of the fixture promoting three-dimensional interlocking with bone, and this surface structure leads to reduction of implant length with an increased bone contact area on its surface. It consequently produces firmer bone support of implants.
Partially edentulous cases of the mandible were mainly selected, and 1 to 3 implants (total:78 implants) were placed under a certain surgical procedure previously performed at the University of Toronto.
As a clinical evaluation, observation of the periimplant tissue condition by Gingival Index, measurement of peri-implant pocket depth, measuremeat of implant mobility with Periotest device, and clinical observation of the bone condition around implants with radiographs were performed.
In addition, a questionnaire was given to patients after 6-month function in order to determine the condition of oral function and patient's satisfaction with the implant.
After 6-Month function, 75 of implants have been keeping normal function(survival rate:96.2%), and no abnormal aspect suggesting infection, bone resorption, and implant mobility, which could cause implant failure, was observed.
This implant has many favorable characteristics for clinical application such as a firm bone support with bone ingrowth into a three-dimensional network of pores, an easy placement of the implant fixture by a simple surgical procedure and a downsizing of implant length resulting in application to a wide range of clinical cases compared to former implant systems. They must contribute to spread implant therapy to general clinical practice.
