Clinical and Radiographic Evaluation of Br？nemark Implants with an Anodized Surface following Seven-to-Eight Years of Functional Loading

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic long-term outcomes of dental implants with an anodized TiUnite surface, placed in routine clinical practice. Two clinical centers participated in the study. One hundred and seven implants (80 in the maxilla and 27 in the mandible) in 52 patients were followed in the long term. Both one- and two-stage techniques were used for 38 and 69 implants, respectively. Thirty-eight single tooth restorations and 22 fixed partial prostheses were delivered, according to a delayed loading protocol, within 4 to 12 months since implant placement. All implants were stable at insertion and at the long-term follow-up visit, which occurred between 7 and 8 years of functional loading. The mean followup was years. The mean marginal bone level change at the long-term followup as compared to baseline was ？mm. No implant failure occurred. Healthy peri-implant mucosa was found around 95% of implants, whereas 91% of implants showed no visible plaque at the implant surfaces at the long-term followup. The study showed that dental implants with the TiUnite anodized surface demonstrate excellent long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes. 1. Introduction The long-term success of the original Br？nemark machined-surfaced osseointegrated dental implants is clearly demonstrated in the scientific literature. Numerous clinical evidences prove the consistency of the guidelines suggested in the original Br？nemark protocol, where osseointegration of dental implants can be achieved and maintained for a long time under functional loading [1–6]. Over the years, the original Br？nemark protocol underwent many modifications that further increased the applicability and predictability of implant treatment. For example, the reduction of the healing period with the advent of early and immediate loading protocols, and the placement of implants in fresh postextraction sockets, or in regenerated bone, allow clinicians to extend implant therapy to a broader population of patients as well as improve the clinical success of such treatment. The macroscopic and microscopic features of the fixtures have also dramatically changed, due to a series of modifications aimed at optimizing the mechanical anchorage as well as the osseointegration process in different clinical situations. The role of implant surfaces has long been considered as critical for the success of the treatment, which relies upon a proper osseointegration [7, 8]. It has been demonstrated that titanium per se does not establish an intimate direct contact with the surrounding bone