Monolithic zirconia single tooth implant‐supported restorations with CAD/CAM titanium abutments in the posterior region: A 1‐year prospective case series study

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical, radiographic, and patient‐reported outcome measures, including the success of screw‐retained monolithic zirconia implant‐supported restorations with CAD/CAM titanium abutments in the posterior region during a 1‐year follow‐up. METHODS: In a prospective case series, 50 molar sites in the posterior region of 46 patients with a minimum age of 18 years and sufficient bone volume and anatomical conditions for placing an implant (≥8 mm) and an anatomical restoration were included. Parallel‐walled implants with a conical connection were inserted in a two‐stage surgical procedure. Implant uncovering and healing abutment placement occurred 12 weeks after insertion. Two weeks after mucosa healing, a screw‐retained monolithic zirconia restoration with a CAD/CAM titanium abutment was placed. Clinical, radiographic, and patient‐reported outcome measures were collected at baseline before implant placement and then during the 1 month and 1 year follow‐ups. RESULTS: At the 1 year follow‐up, 49 restorations could be evaluated. The plaque accumulation, presence of calculus, bleeding tendency and peri‐implant inflammation indices were low, representing healthy peri‐implant conditions. The mean marginal bone level change between the 1 month and the 1 year follow‐up was −0.17 ± 0.46 mm. The mean patient satisfaction was high. The restoration success was, according to the modified USPHS criteria, 95.9%. CONCLUSION: Monolithic zirconia implant‐supported restorations with CAD/CAM titanium abutments have very good clinical, radiographic and patient‐reported outcomes after 1 year in function.