Implant Compression Necrosis: Current Understanding and Case Report

Background: Implants fail for a variety of reasons; it can be difficult to determine the exact cause of failure, especially if there are multiple contributing factors. Overcompression of the adjacent bone during implant placement is a potential contributing factor to implant failure that is not well documented in the literature. Methods: This case report reviews the concept of bone loss induced by overcompression and presents a case of implant failure with overcompression as a potential etiology. Histology, radiographs, and clinical data are presented that document the failure of four implants placed in the posterior mandible of a 48-year-old female patient. Results: After uneventful implant placement, one implant exfoliated 3 weeks postoperatively. The other three implants were removed because of severe bone loss up to 2 months later. Histology of the area revealed non-viable bony sequestra with bacterial colonization. Conclusions: This case highlights unusual implant failures that likely occurred as a result of overcompression of the bone during placement. Areas involving dense bone seem to be at increased risk for compression necrosis. J Periodontol 2009;80:700-704.