Short Dental Implants: State of the Art and Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: The success of dental implants is due to their ability to osseointegrate, with direct contact of the implant surface with the bone, without the interposition of fibrous tissue. Because many patients do not receive implant treatments because they do not have adequate or sufficient bone height, the development of shorter implants could meet the needs of these patients. Objective: To carry out a brief systematic review to present the state of the art of using short implants. Methods: The present study followed a concise systematic review model. The search was carried out in the PubMed, Embase, Ovid, Cochrane Library, Web Of Science, and Scopus databases. The quality of the studies was based on the GRADE instrument and the risk of bias was analyzed according to the Cochrane instrument. Results: Short implants are an increasingly common alternative to other surgical techniques in areas where bone availability is reduced. Despite the advantages they offer, a variety of biological repercussions have been described in the literature that can even lead to their loss. Conclusion: The studies analyzed showed that short implants are a reliable, safe, and practical alternative to be used in situations with reduced bone height. They do not present bone loss or resorption over the years, nor the risk of fracture or any damage to patients, as long as they have an adequate design, correct technique, and meticulous planning.