Prospective Evaluation of Bone Remodeling in Full-Arch Rehabilitations with Morse Taper Implants: A Case Series Study with One-Year Follow-Up

This case series study evaluated the survival, success rate and marginal bone remodeling of Morse taper hydrophilic implants placed for full-arch rehabilitations over a 1-year follow-up period. Ten patients in need of maxillary and/or mandibular full-arch rehabilitation were selected. Sixty-six Morse taper implants and sixty-six abutments were inserted. All implants were placed using a surgical flap approach without bone regeneration and were immediately loaded with definitive prostheses according to the passive fitting technique. The patients underwent clinical and radiographic follow-up at different postoperative periods: T0 = immediate (up to 1 month after surgery); T1 = 3–4 months after sur-gery; T2 = 6–8 months after surgery; and T3 = 1 year after surgery. The survival and success rate of the implants and the marginal bone remodeling were evaluated. Normal distribution of the outcomes was verified by Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests. Therefore, changes in vertical and horizontal marginal bone levels were assessed with paired t-tests. Results were considered significant for P < 0.05. Survival and success rates of 100% and 92.4%, respectively, were observed. Statis-tically significant vertical bone level changes were shown for all periods. From T0 to T3, there was a mean difference in vertical bone loss of –1.02 mm on the mesial surface and of –0.93 mm on the distal surface, for horizontal bone loss in the same period, it was observed mean changes of –0.14 mm on the mesial surface and –0.09 mm on the distal surface. This 1-year case series follow-up of immediate full-arch rehabilitation, using one-step hybrid passive fitting supported by four to six hydrophilic tapered implants, suggests predictability with high survival and success rates in edentulous patients. © 2022 by Begell House, Inc.