A retrospective multicenter study on short implants with a laser-microgrooved collar (≤7.5 mm) in posterior edentulous areas: radiographic and clinical results up to 3 to 5 years

Purpose: We aimed to retrospectively evaluate the radiographic and clinical results and the success rate of short implants with a laser-microgrooved collar (≤7.5 mm) placed in the posterior areas after up to 3 to 5 years of function and the possible influence of several variables—such as gender, periodontitis, smoking habit, location, implant stability at placement, and prosthetic fixation design—on implant marginal bone loss (MBL). Materials and Methods: A chart review was used for this multicenter study, which involved 5 private dental clinics. All patients had been treated with short dental implants with a laser-microgrooved collar from January 2012 to December 2015. Results: A total of 174 patients (99 male and 75 female patients; mean age, 51.6 ± 2.8 years) with 254 implants were evaluated. Seven short implants failed. The cumulative success rate was 97.2%, without a statistically significant difference between implants placed in the posterior maxilla and mandible. The mean MBL was 0.18 ± 0.7 mm at the mesial aspect and 0.19 ± 0.6 mm at the distal aspect. No statistical relationships were found between MBL and gender, periodontitis, smoking habit, location, implant stability at placement, and prosthetic fixation design. Conclusions: At the end of the 3- to 5-year follow-up period, short implants with a laser-microgrooved collar (≤7.5 mm) in the posterior areas yielded a relatively high cumulative success rate. The laser-microgrooved collar implant maintained stable marginal bone levels. No investigated variable was statistically associated with MBL.