HA-coated implants: warranted or not?

Despite anecdotal reports that challenge hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated implant survivability, the experience in the placement of these implants over 9 years at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry has been favorable. The results of these implant placements are presented and analyzed in this article. After 7 years, the survival rate of HA-coated custom and stock blade-form implants is 97%. At 5 years, the survival rate for all upper HA-coated root form implants is 98%, and for all HA-coated implants placed in the lower jaw it is 99%. For implants placed in maxillary type 4 bone, there was a 32.6% failure rate among uncoated implants, but a rate of 14.9% in HA-coated implants. The causes of implant failure are often related to factors other than the type of implant, such as iatrogenic factors and poor oral hygiene.