A Study of POI 2 Piece Type Implant Clinical Cases at 7 Years after Placement

Abstract

In clinical practice, unilateral mandibular free-end edentulous cases are often seen.
However, it has been recognized as a more favorable method to establish a posterior centric stop using implant. Further, it is out of the question when considered from both functional and esthetic viewpoints that the most comfortable prosthesis that patients wish to have would be the fixed one.
In this study, periapical radiographs of implants and surrounding tissues of the remaining natural teeth were examined focusing on 2 typical cases of POI 2-piece type Implant 7 years after placement in order to comparatively evaluate their time-wise changes.
In addition, analyses using“Occluzer” were also performed as to what values of and how the occlusal stresses were loaded on implants and remaining teeth.
The results were as follows:
1. The periapical radiographs of the implant and remaining natural teeth surrounding tissues for up to 7 years after placement suggested that the postoperative course was uneventful without any remarkable changes or abnormal findings such as radiolucency by bone resorption.
2. By the analyses using“Dental Prescale”and “Occluzer”it is considered that the occlusal forces for left and right sides were maintained in good balance. The center of occlusal stresses seemed to be located at ideal position and the mandibular position seemed to be stable.
3. For both the implants-natural teeth occlusion and the natural-natural teeth at opposite sites,almost the same values of occlusal stresses were obtained.
The results demonstrated that the implant supported prostheses were durable enough to play a role in occlusion and considerably efficient masticatory functions were obfained.