Criteria for Success in Dental Implants: A Systematic Review

AIM AND OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the most frequently used criteria to define treatment success in implant dentistry. MATERIALS AND METHOD An electronic search in the MEDLINE/PubMED database was performed for studies published in English from January 1980 until October 2010. The search strategy included the following key word combinations success criteria AND implant, success rates AND implant, survival rates AND implant, and outcomes AND implant dentistry. RESULTS The electronic and manual search yielded 2 randomized clinical trials and 15 prospective. In total, 17 publications were suitable for analysis. Some of the included articles had mixed data reporting on more than one type of prosthesis. Most of the articles included four most used parameters which are taken into consideration are the implant fixture, the peri-implant soft tissue, prosthetic level and also patients satisfaction. CONCLUSION Each criteria has its own consideration to be evaluated in order to determine success. Pain, mobility and bone loss are the most commonly used criteria to report success at the implant level. Suppuration and probing depth are the frequently used criteria at peri-implant soft tissue level. As for prosthetic level, the commonly used criteria include function and esthetics while patients satisfaction is commonly considered a success if comfort and appearance satisfaction are achieved. The reported success rate consistently decreased when the number of parameters included for the assessment of success was increased.