Single implants in dorsal areas - a systematic review

aim: this study evaluated the efficacy of replacing single missing teeth in the posterior quadrants of the maxilla and/or mandible with an implant-supported dental prosthesis. material and methods: three scientific literature databases - medline (pubmed), ovid medline and cochrane central register of controlled Trials (CENTRAL) - were used to perform a search of publications over a period from 1985 to 2014. one hundred and forty one (141) articles were reviewed; 36 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final review. results: the survival rates, success rates and mean bone loss for immediate implant placement were 96.9%, 100% and 0.85 mm, respectively. the survival rates, success rates and mean bone loss for delayed implant placement were 96.8%, 94.1% and 0.55 mm respectively. the survival rate, success rate and the mean bone loss in studies comparing immediate versus delayed implant placement showed 96.8% and 96.3%, 85.8% and 93.3%, and 0.57 ± 0.57 mm and 0.55 ± 0.37 mm, respectively. conclusion: the prognosis for single molar implants provides a viable treatment option for replacing a single missing tooth in the posterior quadrants of the maxilla and mandible. there does not appear to be a significant difference in the survival rates of immediately placed implants compared with delayed implant placement. however, the success rates were slightly higher with delayed loading protocols than immediate loading protocols.