Dental implants are small metal posts that look like miniature screws. They are surgically implanted into the jawbone where they serve as substitute tooth roots. Implants are used in dentistry to reestablish function and aesthetics to areas of the mouth were natural teeth are missing.
Classical dental implants are made in two pieces. One part anchors in the jawbone and one part serves as a connecting post (an abutment) that attaches to a crown restoration or to attachment clasps that hold a denture in place.
Occasionally the materials used to fasten the two implant components together work their way loose and over time the abutment may begin to disconnect. If this happens a small gap appears between the implant and abutment. There are many reasons why this loosening occurs. One reason may be the design of the implant itself and another may be the way the two components are fastened together.
This study will assess the performance of an implant with a new design. The investigators hypothesize that using this implant design will reduce the risk of an implant-abutment disconnect and improve long-term success of implant therapy.
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Junctional stability between device and abutment [ Time Frame: 24 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Peri-implant osseous support of the device [ Time Frame: 24 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Peri-implant soft-tissue response to the device [ Time Frame: 24 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Biospecimen Description:
| Estimated Enrollment: |
20 |
| Study Start Date: |
April 2005 |
| Estimated Study Completion Date: |
May 2012 |
| Estimated Primary Completion Date: |
May 2012 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure) |
Intervention Details:
Device: ACE CONNECT Endosseous dental implant
Subjects in this study receive ACE CONNECT Internal-Connection dental implants to: 1)replace a missing tooth in an edentulous area of the maxilla or mandible restored with a single-unit crown (may include up to two non-adjacent areas as study sites) or, 2)subjects with an edentulous mandible will receive two implants placed in the lower canine position and restored with an implant-retained removable over-denture. Subjects will return for four follow-up evaluations scheduled at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after delivery of the permanent restoration.
While the external hex dental implant design has had very good clinical success, it is limited by retention screw loosening at the junction of the implant fixture and abutment; a situation that leads to micro-movement between components.
A number of clinical complications may arise when implant components separate. Micro-movement between the implant abutment and seating platform is thought to contribute to the formation of a "biological gap", the most notable consequence being gradual resorption of crestal alveolar bone over time.
We hypothesize that the "ACE CONNECT" two-piece implant design with an internal connection will limit screw loosening by providing a stable junction between the body of the implant and the abutment; a more stable junction will limit micro-movement and prevent the formation of a gap between components. Limiting the gap will lead to less inflammation of peri-implant soft tissues and reduced resorption of bone adjacent to the implant.
Purpose
