Success of dental implants placed in intraoral block bone grafts.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the survival and success of dental implants placed in alveolar bone following augmentation using intraoral block bone grafts.

Methods: A consecutive retrospective study was conducted on patients who had onlay bone grafts for vertical or horizontal augmentations followed by dental implantation from 1999 to 2001. Files of 50 healthy patients who received 129 implants in augmented sites were reviewed. Implant survival, radiologic implant success (marginal bone loss), and complications were recorded.

Results: Follow-up from time of implantation ranged from 6 to 67 months (mean: 24.3 +/- 11.2 months). Ranges of implant widths and lengths were 3.25 to 4.7 mm and 10 to 16 mm, respectively. The overall survival rate was 96.9% (four implants were removed). Marginal bone loss around implants ranged from 0 to 3.3 mm (average: 0.22 +/- 0.45 mm). Only 5% of the implants presented marginal bone loss > or =1.5 mm over the follow-up time.

Conclusions: Intraoral bone block graft surgery is a predictable operation for the use of dental implants. Implant placement in augmented areas presents high survival and radiologic success rates with minimal bone loss.