A 3 to 4 year study of single tooth hydroxylapatite coated endosseous dental implants

To evaluate the clinical effectiveness, common complications and maintenance associated with hydroxylapatite (HA) coated cylindrical implants when used to support single crowns. A prospective medium term clinical study of the Calcitek HA-coated implant. Implant placement, crown fabrication and follow-up procedures were carried out at the Leeds Dental Institute, between 1990 and 1998. 26 patients (33 implants) participated in the trial. They were referred from general dental practitioners because of their suitability for single tooth implant placement. The implants were assessed using recognised clinical review procedures e.g. radiographs and soft tissue assessments. At exposure there was 100% implant integration. The cumulative survival rate over 4 years was 100%. In five implants there was cervical bone loss of more than 4 mm and these were classified as failing. This gave an overall cumulative success rate of 58% by year 4. The Calcitek HA-coated single tooth implant shows exceptionally high initial integration however, the longer term results suggest that the cervical bone level adjacent to the implant failed to establish a steady state. Doubts remain regarding the long-term prognosis of these cylindrical HA-coated implants.