Removal of dental implants: review of five different techniques

Abstract

The aims of this study were to review five different explantation techniques for the removal of failing implants and to propose a practical clinical protocol. During a 10-year period, 95 implants were explanted from 81 patients. Explantation techniques used were the bur–forceps (BF), neo bur–elevator–forceps (ηBEF), trephine drill (TD), high torque wrench (HTW), and scalpel–forceps (SF) techniques. The following parameters were analyzed: indications for explanation, site of implantation, and the type, diameter, and length of the implant removed. The most frequent indications for implant removal were peri-implantitis ( n = 37) and crestal bone loss ( n = 48). The posterior maxilla was the most frequent site of implant removal ( n = 48). The longer implants were more frequently removed ( n = 78). The majority of implants were removed after 1 year in function ( n = 69). The BF/ηBEF and SF techniques were found to be the most efficient. Explantation techniques appeared to be successful for the removal of failing implants. The BF/ηBEF and SF techniques demonstrated 100% success. The ηBEF technique enabled safe insertion of a new implant in the same explantation site. The HTW technique appeared to be the most elegant technique with the highest predictability for insertion of another implant. An explantation protocol is proposed.

The current literature provides ample data on the high success rates of dental implant treatment, which range from 90% to 97%. Failing implants are usually removed either because of progressive bone loss due to a peri-implant infection, frequently associated with occlusal overload, or due to placement in aesthetically unacceptable locations. Explantation is also performed on osseointegrated orthodontic implants following the termination of the orthodontic treatment. Furthermore, implants associated with a good bony and soft tissue condition are occasionally removed in psychologically unstable patients.

Different techniques for dental implant removal have been proposed in the literature, such as the use of thin burs or a trephine drill at low speed under water cooling, the use of an electro-surgery unit to cause thermo-necrosis of the bone and subsequent weakening of the bone–implant interface, and laser-assisted explantation, as well as a removal torque procedure.

Available data on explantation techniques appear to be inconsistent, therefore there is no reported unique treatment protocol for the successful and least traumatic removal of dental implants. The employment of less traumatic manoeuvres seems to be required to create minimal residual bony defects and spare the soft tissues. Ideally, the explantation procedure should be followed either by the installation of another implant or by guided bone regeneration (GBR), or both at the same sitting, when indicated.

The aim of this study was to review five different explantation techniques based on the authors’ clinical material, in order to describe their advantages and disadvantages and to offer a practical clinical protocol for the explantation of failing implants.

Materials and methods

In this retrospective cohort study, the dental records of 112 patients of both sexes who had been subjected to the removal of a total of 129 dental implants over a 10-year period (2003–2013) were examined. Seventy patients were referrals. The dental records of 31 patients from whom 34 implants were removed were excluded from the study on the basis of the following criteria: accidental removal of the implant (1) at the time of the cover screw being replaced by the healing abutment ( n = 6); (2) with the tightening force of 35 N cm applied for mounting the abutment ( n = 13); (3) as a result of failing osseointegration without symptoms or signs of peri-implantitis at routine follow-up ( n = 8); (4) becoming loose in the infected bone ( n = 3). All other failing implants, irrespective of the cause, were removed using dental forceps and rotational and/or rocking movements only ( n = 4).

The dental records of the remaining 81 patients with a total of 95 implants removed were analyzed with respect to the effectiveness of the surgical techniques applied, indications for explantation, the anatomical distribution of the implants removed, and the implant types, diameters, and lengths.

Surgical techniques applied in the present study are described as the bur–forceps technique (BF), the neo bur–elevator–forceps technique (ηBEF), the trephine drill technique (TD), the high torque wrench technique (HTW), and the scalpel–forceps technique (SF). Apart from the SF technique, all techniques were used only for implants indicated for removal with a minimum of 1/3 of the threads and that were well osseointegrated without any mobility.

The bur–forceps technique (BF)

After elevation of a mucoperiosteal flap, a small sized round and/or fissure bur (Nos. 3–4) is used to remove the bone, usually from the facial aspect down to the apex of the implant, taking care to preserve the lingual cortex and as much of the bone as possible mesially and distally ( Fig. 1 ). If bone resorption is found on the lingual side (this occurred in two cases), with the facial cortex intact, then the bony defect is deepened on the lingual side sparing the facial cortex. The implant is then grasped with the dental forceps and an attempt made to remove it by rotational and slight rocking movements, similar to tooth extraction. If this is not feasible, more bone is drilled out until it is possible to either unwind it or luxate it towards the bone-removed region, thus creating a three-wall bony defect.

Fig. 1
Failing implants in the posterior maxilla removed using the bur–forceps (BF) technique. (A) Preoperative condition with the bone loss affecting the buccal aspect of the implants. (B) Three-sided bone defects following explantation.

The neo bur–elevator–forceps technique (ηBEF)

This technique commences with the removal of bone mesially and distally from the implant, aiming towards the apex. Round and/or fissure burs (No. 1) are used, with copious running saline, trying to maintain a close distance to the implant surfaces ( Fig. 2 A). The implant head is grasped with the corresponding tooth/Lyer forceps and turned clockwise and anti-clockwise. When resistant to such attempted movements, a thin straight elevator (Couplands elevator No. 3) is placed into the mesial and distal crevices, intermittently applying small gentle rotating movements similar to those used for the extraction of buried roots, until the implant is noted to be slightly tilted to one side ( Fig. 2 B). Then, the elevator is placed into the crevice on the contralateral side and similar movements performed. The implant head is then grasped with dental extraction forceps and gentle rocking movements applied, pushing it mesially and distally only, thus preserving both the facial and the lingual cortical plates ( Fig. 2 B). When little resistance is felt, the implant is removed with a final anti-clockwise rotation leaving an ovoid defect ( Fig. 2 C).

Fig. 2
Three failing implants in the mandible. The central implant was planned for implantoplasty to support the provisional bridge, whereas the lateral ones were indicated for removal. The distant one was removed using the high torque wrench (HTW) technique, whereas the mesial implant with the fractured neck was removed with the neo bur–elevator–forceps (ηBEF) technique. (A) The distal implant was removed and a new one inserted. The bone was removed mesially and distally around the mesial implant using a No. 1 round bur and fissure burs. (B) A No. 3 Couplands elevator was placed into the bone crevice on both sides intermittently and slight rotational movements applied until the implant was tilted. (C) The defect was of an ovoid shape with well preserved facial and lingual cortices ready for the insertion of a new implant (not shown).

The trephine drill technique (TD)

An appropriate trephine drill with a diameter and length corresponding to the size of the implant to be removed is selected ( Fig. 3 A). The healing abutment or abutment/crown is unscrewed and a mucoperiosteal flap raised if necessary. The trephine drill is sunk over the implant into the bone using low speed 50–80 rpm drilling and light pressure with running saline cooling. A hole is drilled taking care that the trephine has been sunk to the exact depth by controlling the outside rings on the drill. For implant systems that do not provide a guiding cylinder/pin, a healing abutment of smallest emergence profile diameter is mounted before using the trephine. For Straumann Standard and Standard Plus implants, the polished neck is reduced with a high-speed diamond drill to correspond to the diameter of the guided cylinder ( Fig. 3 B). In the event that the implant is still firm after the trephine has been lifted (in cases of insufficient drilling depth), a Couplands elevator is placed into the empty space and lightly twisted to break the bony connections, enabling easy removal of the implant using the fingertips.

Fig. 3
The trephine drill (TD) technique. (A) The trephine drill is selected to match the diameter of the failing implant. (B) Before using the trephine drill for the removal of a Straumann Standard or Standard Plus implant, the polished neck is trimmed with a diamond bur to the size of the implant body diameter.

The high torque wrench technique (HTW)

For the patients included in this study, the Neo Fixture Remover Kit (Neobiotech Co., Korea) was used for this technique. The compatibility list was consulted first to determine the correct dimension of the fixture remover screw and the implant remover to fit to the implant chamber and outer diameter, respectively.

The procedure commences with the removal of the cover screw or the abutment of the implant to be removed. The fixture remover screw is inserted clockwise ( Fig. 4 A) and tightened using the torque wrench with a torque of 50 N cm ( Fig. 4 B). The fixture remover screw, which features a specific thread design at the apical tip, is attached to the receiving implant chamber, while the opposite end has a fixed constant diameter. The next instrument, named the implant remover, is manually screwed onto the free end of the fixture remover screw in an anti-clockwise direction ( Fig. 4 C). Once the implant remover has been seated, the dynamometric ratchet is set in an anti-clockwise direction and force applied to unwind the implant ( Fig. 4 D). It usually takes a few seconds until less resistance is felt. During this time, the implant and the surrounding bone are cooled using saline, since an increase in bone temperature is expected as a result of high friction (300–500 N cm). After one to two turns with the torque wrench, almost no resistance is usually felt and the implant is manually unscrewed ( Fig. 4 E). If the implant does not become loose despite maximal torque applied, the implant remover is temporarily removed, and a No. 1 round bur used to remove the bone around the implant neck down to the second or third thread; the implant remover is then mounted again, applying sufficient torque until the implant becomes loose. Following the termination of the procedure, when successful, the implant is removed together with the fixture remover screw and the implant remover. The implant remover and the fixture remover screw are dismantled from the removed implant by simultaneous use of the torque wrench and the pliers, firstly turning the implant remover clockwise and secondly the fixture remover screw anti-clockwise.

Fig. 4
The high torque wrench (HTW) technique. (A) The fixture remover screw is mounted onto the failing implant manually. (B) The fixture screw is tightened with the high torque wrench, with a torque of 50 N cm, clockwise. (C) The implant remover is manually screwed onto the free end of the fixture remover screw in an anti-clockwise direction. (D) The wrench is set and the force applied in an anti-clockwise direction. (E) After 1–2 turns with the torque wrench, the implant is manually unscrewed.

Re-use of the fixture remover screw and implant remover is possible with caution. The fixture remover screw may be re-used once or twice provided that a low unwinding force has been applied. The implant remover, however, may be re-used more frequently, until the tips become blunt.

The scalpel–forceps technique (SF)

This technique was used only for implants with an old-fashioned blade design, as well as ‘basal osseointegrated implants’ (BOI), which are supposed to be anchored to the bone by a combination of osseointegration and connective fibrous tissue bands, formerly defined as ‘fibro-osseointegration’.

The Linkow-type blade vent implant head is grasped with dental forceps and a luxation movement started with constant pulling. The scalpel is used to sever the connective tissue bands all around the implant. This may take some time, and despite wobbling and mobility, it is not possible to extract the implant until the last connective tissue band is released ( Fig. 5 A–C). For BOI, in the event that the horizontal part is bent, this must first be straightened with Lyer forceps and the implant head grasped with dental forceps with one hand. The scalpel in the other hand is used to sever the connective tissue while the implant is pulled constantly towards the lateral aspect of the jaw until the least resistance is felt.

Fig. 5
The scalpel–forceps (SF) technique. (A) Preoperative radiographic image of a failing Linkow-type blade implant in the upper jaw. (B) The implant-supported crown is grasped with the dental forceps after the fibrous bands around the implants have been severed with a scalpel. (C) The removed implant with the soft tissue capsule around it.

Results

A total of 95 implants were removed. Of these 95 implants, 53 were removed from the maxilla and 42 from the mandible. The indications for explantation were recurrent peri-implantitis not responding to treatment in 37 cases, crestal bone loss in 48 cases, neurosensory deficit of the inferior alveolar nerve as a result of compression in two cases, chronic periodontitis of the neighbouring teeth affecting the implant in five cases, implant fracture in two cases, and osteomyelitis in one case. The anatomical distribution of the implants removed and the implant types, diameters, and lengths are described in Table 1 . The posterior maxilla was the most frequent site of implant removal ( n = 48), followed by the posterior mandible ( n = 35). The majority of implants ( n = 69) were removed after a minimum of 1 year in function. The longer implants were more frequently removed ( n = 78) when compared to implants with a length of less than 8 mm ( n = 17).

Table 1
Characteristics of implants removed and the anatomical site of insertion according to the type of implant and the implant diameter.
Implant type and diameter a Implant Anatomical region
Length Time span in function Mandible Maxilla
≤8 mm ≥10 mm <3 months 3–12 months >12 months Anterior Posterior Anterior Posterior
Narrow diameter
Straumann
Standard 5 5 1 2 2
Bone level 1 1 1
Nobel Biocare
Replace Select Tapered 2 1 1 1 1
NobelActive 3 1 1 1 1 1 1
Regular diameter
Straumann
Standard 9 9 5 4
Hollow Screw 2 2 2
Nobel Biocare
Replace Select Tapered 2 12 2 2 10 1 4 9
Brånemark MKIII 3 17 1 3 16 2 6 2 10
NobelActive 1 6 3 4 2 5
Osstem 1 1 1
Wide diameter
Straumann
Standard 4 4 4
Nobel Biocare
Replace Select Tapered 2 4 3 3 2 4
NobelActive 1 3 1 1 2 2 2
Miscellaneous
Linkow blade vent 2 2 2
BOI implant b 4 4 2 2
Unknown 4 7 3 2 6 5 6
Total 17 78 8 18 69 7 35 5 48

a Narrow diameter 3.0–3.5 mm; regular diameter 3.75–4.3 mm; wide diameter ≥4.8 mm.

b Basal osseointegrated implant.

It was possible to insert another implant at the same sitting in 23 explantation sites. Of these, 17 were inserted following the use of the HTW technique, five following the ηBEF technique, and one following the TD technique. Of the 23 inserted implants, two failed osseointegration (after 4 and 6 months respectively); new implants were inserted and are still in function 2 years after placement. The remaining 72 explantation sites that were left open healed uneventfully.

Explantation techniques according to the implant type and diameter are shown in Table 2 . With regard to the efficacy of the techniques applied, the BF/ηBEF techniques proved to be the most efficient ( Table 3 ). The TD technique failed in two out of 19 attempts, whereas the HTW technique failed in five out of 32 cases. The ηBEF technique proved successful even when TD and HTW failed (seven cases). The time scale of the use of the implant removal techniques is summarized in Table 4 .

Jan 16, 2018 | Posted by in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | Comments Off on Removal of dental implants: review of five different techniques

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