Clinical effect of titanium-zirconium small-diameter implants in the anterior esthetic zone

To investigate the clinical effect of a titanium-zirconium small-diameter implant in anterior teeth with bone deficiencies in the esthetic area and to provide a basis for clinical application of this implant.

A retrospective analysis was performed using clinical data from 30 patients with a missing alveolar ridge width < 5.5 mm and a titanium-zirconium 3.3 mm diameter implant prosthesis in the anterior esthetic region. A total of 38 titanium-zirconium implants with a diameter of 3.3 mm were implanted in 30 patients. Clinical examination and CBCT were performed 12 and 24 months after implantation to evaluate the success rate and marginal bone resorption of the 3.3 mm small-diameter titanium-zirconium implants. The modified plaque index, improved gingival sulcus bleeding index, exploration depth, pink esthetic score (PES) and prosthetic complications were measured and recorded.

The 24-month success rate of the implant was 100%. The average marginal bone resorption height was 0.51 ± 0.20 mm at 12 months after implant placement and 0.59 ± 0.18 mm at 24 months. The edge bone height did not change significantly (t＝1.381, P＝0.178). No significant differences were found in the modified plaque index around the implant, modified sulcus bleeding index and probing depth between 12 and 24 months (P > 0.05), and the gingival health was good. The PES value was 9.77 ± 1.48 at 12 months and 10.77 ± 1.50 at 24 months (t＝0.426, P＝0.672). The PES was increased at 24 months versus 12 months, but this difference was not significant (P > 0.05). The overall esthetic effect was good, and no complications occurred after repair.

Titanium-zirconium small-diameter implants can achieve good shortterm clinical results in the esthetic area of the anterior teeth.