Practice abstract
British Dental Journal 197, 615 - 617 (2004)
Published online: 27 November 2004 | doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4811824
Fracture of the body of an implant and its management — a case history
K Gibney1
- Fracture of an implant is rare, occurring in about 0.6% of cases.
- Occlusal overload has been suggested as a cause.
- In this case the occlusal load was increased and fracture then occurred.
- Bridges with cantilever design on single implants will further increase bending forces on implants and therefore the supporting bone. This may lead to marginal bone loss.
- A treatment option leaving the implant fragment in situ is described.
Abstract
The increasing use of endosseous osseointegrated implants to replace natural teeth will inevitably lead to an increase in patients presenting in general dental practice with failing implants. A fractured implant body is not a common cause of failure, however it is a common cause of late failure. There is evidence that careful treatment planning can reduce the incidence of fracture. This paper describes a case demonstrating the management of implant fracture and discussing a possible mechanism for this failure. Some of the previously described factors that have been thought to contribute towards fracture are also discussed.
- GDP, St Paul's Square Dental Practice, 14 Duke Street, Southport, Merseyside, PR8 2AQ
Correspondence to: K Gibney1 e-mail: kevingibney@dial.pipex.com
