To understand complications and failures it is necessary to delve into the literature to examine the etiology that generated the problems with the implant. To clarify and understand these concerns better, the author reviewed the literature to ascertain what the etiological factors were. In 1993 Babbush and Shimura reported on the 5-year statistical and clinical observations with IMZ (Attachment International Inc., Burlingame, CA) two-stage osseointegrated implants.¹ Of the 1059 implants reviewed over a period of 5 years, the total number of failures was 24 in the maxilla and 4 in the mandible for a total of 28.¹ Babbush et al. reported on the titanium plasma-sprayed Swiss screw implant system in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in 1986.² The 1991 textbook Implants: Principles and Practices also reported on a large number of cases.³ Wheeler reported an 8-year clinical retrospective study of titanium plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite-coated implants in 1996.⁴ Buchs et al. reported on his interim clinical study on threaded hydroxyapatite-coated implants with 5-year postrestoration safety and efficacy.⁵ Jaffin and Berman reported the excessive loss of Brånemark fixtures in type 4 bone with a 5-year analysis.⁶ Huerzeler published “Reconstruction of the Severely Resorbed Maxilla with Dental Implants and Augmented Maxillary Sinus: A Five-Year Clinical Investigation” in 1991.⁷ This was then followed by two papers by Arun Garg, “Complications Associated with Implant Surgical Procedures, Part I: Prevention” and “Complications Associated with Implant Surgical Procedures, Part II: Treatment” in May 2004 (published in Dental Implantology Update).^8,9 A series of papers followed, which are documented in the references.^10–29

Categorization of Etiological Factors in Complications and Failures of Implants

After reviewing the literature it was evident to the author that an appropriate categorization of the etiological factors of complications and/or failure could include three main categories: (1) the implant system, (2) the patient, and (3) the doctor (Box 29-1).

BOX 29-1 Etiological factors in complications and failures of dental implants

• The implant system

• The patient

• The doctor

Implant System

Implant system review based on failure potential should evaluate such aspects as poor overall design of the body of the implant; insufficient implant size leading to poor bioengineering and support; presence of a large microgap between the various components, abutments, or internal connections; chronic screw loosening; abutment and/or implant precision; and acceptability of implant surface for osseointegration (Box 29-2).^30,31

BOX 29-2 Implant system failures

• Poor design of the body of the implant

• Insufficient implant size

• Insufficient number of implants

• Large microgap

• Screw loosening

• Abutment/implant precision

• Implant surface

• Armamentarium

Patient

Factors in patient-based failures include parafunctional habits, smoking, preexisting diseases (for example, diabetes and/or connective tissue diseases), and physical impairments/disabilities that inhibit maintenance and good oral hygiene on a daily basis, which put the implant at risk. Other factors that contribute to patient failure include the development of postoperative disease states (such as diabetes or connective tissue pathology) and neglect of oral hygiene and home care on a daily basis. Recall on a routine basis provides the practitioner an opportunity to locate and diagnose inappropriate care and/or other problems that could be reversed (Box 29-3).^32–50

BOX 29-3 Patient failures

• Parafunctional habits

• Smoking

• Preexisting medical disease

• Physical impairment

• Postoperative medical disease

• Oral hygiene, home care

• Compliance recall

• Trauma

Doctor

Doctor failures can be divided into four categories: preoperative, intraoperative, postsurgical, and restorative (Box 29-4).^51–75

BOX 29-4 Doctor failures

• Preoperative

• Interoperative

• Postsurgical

• Restorative

Preoperative

Preoperative failure factors include recognition of poor quality and quantity of soft tissue; poor quality and quantity of hard tissue; inadequate preliminary procedures such as appropriate orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics; poor occlusal relationships without proper recognition; and inappropriate treatment plan development (Box 29-5).

BOX 29-5 Preoperative factors

• Poor quality/quantity of soft tissue

• Poor quality/quantity of hard tissue

• Inadequate preliminary procedures

• Occlusal relationships

• Inappropriate treatment plan

Interoperative

Problems that may be initiated by the doctor during the surgical procedure range from an oversized osteotomy with a “spinner” of the implant or an undersized osteotomy, which would generate excessive pressures in trying to seat the implant. Excessive drill speed and pressure would cause a precipitous rise in the frictional heat, elevating the temperature above 42°-44° C and actually cooking the cytoplasm of the cells. Over time, this would create a necrosis of the surrounding hard tissues. Insufficient irrigation would cause the same potential problem. A sinus perforation that was not recognized or cared for postsurgically could lead to infection and/or lack of osteointegration. Inappropriate bioengineering could lead to inappropriate length, diameter, or number of implants to support the restoration. Additionally, encroachment of the mental foramen, or perforation of the mandibular canal could lead to a variety of neurological problems. Malposition of the implant could result in the inability to restore the implant(s) or a compromised restoration, leading to poor hygiene, breakdown of the hard and soft tissues, and ultimate loss of the system, as well as compromised aesthetics. Mandibular fracture secondary to excessive pressures and forces (Figure 29-1), especially in the severely atrophied mandible, is quite possible (Box 29-6).

Figure 29-1. A, Right mandibular fracture due to excessive force during implant placement. B, The fracture was treated with an open reduction using plate/screw fixation. The patient was ultimately restored with a connector bar over-denture with internal clip fixation prostheses.

BOX 29-6 Interoperative factors

• Oversized or undersized osteotomy

• Excessive drill speed and/or pressure

• Insufficient irrigation

• Sinus perforation

• Inappropriate bioengineering

• Canal or foramen perforation

• Malposition

• Mandible fracture

• Hemmorrhage

• Wound closure

Postsurgical

Postsurgical hemorrhage due to poor wound care, suturing technique, patient medication, or undiagnosed bleeding disorders is always a potential hazard. Presurgical medical complications that were not cared for in the postoperative course can lead to inadequate or poor wound closure. Proper postsurgical wound care, pain management, infection control, and oral hygiene and maintenance are vital (Box 26-7).

BOX 29-7 Postsurgical factors

• Follow-up wound care

• Pain management

• Infection control

• Oral hygiene: Short-term, long-term

Restorative

Some of the characteristics of restorations that may contribute to failure are a provisional prosthesis with poor design, a poor finish line, residual cement, and malocclusion due to excessive length of cantilevers. The final prosthesis may have poor contours, inappropriate materials, or inadequate or traumatic occlusion. Fixed versus removable prostheses, splinting versus nonsplinting to adjacent teeth, excessive cantilever lengths, and cementation versus screw retention may all be related to complications or failure (Box 29-8).

BOX 29-8 Restorative factors

• Provisional prosthesis

• Final prosthesis

— Contours

— Materials

— Occlusion

— Fixed vs. removable

— Splinting vs. nonsplinting

— Cantilever length

— Cement vs. screw

Treatment Protocol

Based on all of these factors, a treatment protocol was developed more than 10 years ago that has been utilized whenever these patient problems are diagnosed. The first step in the protocol is determination of the etiology of the problem, which then must be reversed or taken care of. Examples include malocclusion, excessive length of cantilever, insufficient support of implants, and loss of soft tissue integrity both in quality and quantity. When any of these signs and symptoms develop the treatment protocol is initiated to determine which of these factors are relevant and what corrective actions to take.

Preoperative antibiotics are usually initiated 2-3 days before the corrective procedure. In most cases penicillin is still the drug of choice in dental alveolar infections unless there is a medical contraindication or the patient is allergic. Whenever possible, the prosthesis should be removed and a full-thickness mucoperiosteal reflection of the tissue should be carried out. There must be a total removal of soft tissue either with ultrasound or hand instruments. The osseous surrounding structures should be recontoured after all granulation and fibrotic tissue is completely eliminated from the area. If purulent exudate is found at this point, then nothing further should be done until the infection is resolved. This has been extremely rare with this protocol because of the presurgical antibiotic treatment.

Once all of the soft tissues have all been removed from the surface of the implant and the osseous structures have been recontoured, a solution of 1% citric acid is used topically on the surface of the implant and surrounding tissues to detoxify the surface. The area is irrigated with saline after 1.5-2 minutes. Monocycline (Arestin, OraPharma, Inc., Warminster, PA) 1 mg. is injected over the entire surface of the implant and surrounding hard tissue. Once again, the area is irrigated to wash away the monocycline after 1-2 minutes. A composite graft composed of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) fabricated with the usual protocol is then combined with a granular high-porosity bone substitute (Algisorb, Osseous Technologies of America, Newport Beach, CA). The mucoperiosteal tissues are then repositioned and sutured with interrupted 4-0 chromic sutures. The patient is followed for approximately 3 months, during which reconsolidation of the surrounding bone is carried out (Box 29-9) (Figures 29-2 through 29-9).

BOX 29-9 Complications treatment protocol

• Determine etiology of problem

• Correct the causative factor, if possible

• Preoperative antibiotics

• Remove prosthesis, if possible

• Full-thickness flap

• Total removal of soft tissue, recontour bone

• 1% citric acid rinse

• Arestin (monocycline 1 mg) rinse

• PRP composite graft

• Tissue closure

• Prosthesis

Figure 29-4. A, Clinical and B, radiographic view of a restored maxillary left cuspid at the 1-year follow-up evaluation. No evidence of pathology was noted.

Figure 29-2. A and B, Clinical and radiographic views demonstrate the extent of bone loss. All granulation and fibrotic tissue have been removed. C, The 1% citric acid solution is applied to the implant surface to detoxify the area. D, The area is then irrigated with saline solution.E and F, Monocycline (Arestin) 1 mg is injected (E) and spread over the implant surface (F). G, A composite graft composed of allograft (Algisorb) and PRP is packed into the defect. H, The mucoperiosteal flap is repositioned and sutured closed.

Figure 29-3. A and B, Clinical and radiographic views approximately 1 year posttreatment. C, Digital radiographic view 2 years postgraft.

Figure 29-5. A, A panoramic 8-year follow-up radiograph showing severe bone loss in the left posterior maxillary area affecting the three most distal implants. B, A clinical view demonstrating purulent exudate in the buccal vestibule. The patient was noncompliant and had no follow-up care for more than 4 years. C, This clinical view demonstrates severe advanced bone loss with mobility of two implants, which were removed. D, All granulation and fibrotic tissues were enucleated from the site. Preoperative antibiotic therapy was instituted 7 days prior to the procedure. No purulent exudate was encounter/>

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