Clinical and radiographic performance of self‐locking conical connection implants in the posterior mandible: Five‐year results of a two‐centre prospective study

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study aims to assess the 5‐year clinical performance of implants with internal conical connection and platform‐switched abutments in the posterior mandible. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Healthy adults missing at least two teeth in the posterior mandible and with a natural tooth mesial to the implant site received two or three adjacent implants. After a transmucosal healing period single crown restorations were cemented on platform‐switched abutments. Changes in marginal bone levels were investigated in standardized periapical radiographs from surgery and loading (baseline) to 60‐months post‐loading. RESULTS: Twenty‐four patients received 52 implants. Bone remodelling took place between surgery and loading (mean:‐0.5, SD:±0.4 mm). From loading to 60 months, there was a mean bone change of 0.27 (SD:±0.47 mm) which stabilized 24 months after prosthesis delivery (mean:0.2, SD:±0.46 mm). 71.7% of all implants presented bone preservation at 60 months irrespective of the initial insertion depth. Two implants were lost after 5 years and the success rate was 95.1%. Patient enquiry revealed high satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Internal conical connection implants with platform‐switched abutments presented a high success rate and preservation of marginal bone levels at the implant shoulder after 5 years of loading.