Clinical Outcomes of Dental Implant Fractures: A Case Series and Analysis of Influencing Factors.

Purpose: To observe and analyze patients with dental implant fracture and explore the factors influencing the fracture to provide a frame of reference for clinicians.

Materials and methods: The clinical data of 19 patients with dental implant fracture who visited the Department of Implantology at Nanjing Stomatological Hospital between 2007 and 2019 were retrospectively observed and analyzed. Then the influencing factors of the fractures (eg, fracture location on the implant, implant diameter and connection mode, prosthetic method, and fracture site in the mouth) were analyzed and investigated.

Results: The fractured implants comprised 12 Straumann implants (5 fractured at the smooth neck of the implant and 7 atop the central screws), 5 Bego implants (4 fractured at the smooth neck of the implant and 1 atop the central screw), 3 Lifecore implants (all fractured atop the central screws), and 1 Anthogyr implant (fractured atop the central screw). Of the 19 patients, 6 had anterior dental implant fractures, and 13 had posterior dental implant fractures (21 fractured implants in total). Maxillary anterior dental implant fracture was observed in 6 patients (8 implants), maxillary posterior implant fracture was observed in 3 patients (3 implants), and mandibular posterior dental implant fracture was observed in 10 patients (10 implants).

Conclusions: A good implant system design, an appropriate implant diameter, and a reasonable maxillary prosthesis method are key to maintaining long-term stability of a dental implant.