Unconventional Implant Strategy for Patients With Limited Interocclusal Space in the Posterior Region: A Clinical Cohort Study With 1-year Follow-Up

Background: This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of a new implant restoration strategy for patients with limited interocclusal space in the posterior region. Materials: and Methods A total of 37 patients (19 females and 18 males) were enrolled in this study and received 62 implants. A locking taper implant (Bicon) was used for the first stage procedure, which was placed >2mm under the bone. An extraoral cementation technique was used to cement the crown and abutment. The survival and success rate of the implant restorations were evaluated using the plaque index, modified bleeding index, probing depth, marginal bone loss, and the patient's subjective satisfaction. Results: The soft tissues around the implant were healthy and did not show any indications of peri-implantitis. The success rate of the new implant restorations was >96% at the 1-year follow-up. The patients presented satisfactory outcomes at the 1-year follow-up. The marginal bone loss and soft tissue changes were not significantly different at different depths of placement ( p >0.05). Conclusions: According to the results, the use of a locking taper implant and adoption of appropriate prosthetic strategies might be an effective procedure for the prosthetic rehabilitation of patients with limited interocclusal space and reduced occlusal vertical dimensions.