Prosthetic rehabilitation with short GTB implants: crestal bone behaviour after loading. Case report with 9-year follow-up

Over the past few years, the macrogeometry of dental implants and prosthetic components has evolved considerably, resulting in a significant boost in the “biological efficiency” of dental implants. This evolution has, in some cases, brought about major changes to surgical techniques and implant-prosthetic protocols.

Within this framework, the use of “short” implants has increasingly become a reliable treatment option, often helping to avoid complex vertical regeneration procedures that can extend clinical timelines and typically require a two-stage surgical process. 

After years of using this alternative approach, the key question now is how bone, particularly marginal bone, behaves under substantial loads, especially in cases with unfavorable crown-to-root ratios (2:1 or higher).In the next case report, we will present a 9-year follow-up on the placement of a GTB implant measuring 4.3 mm in diameter and 6 mm in length in position 36, serving as a bridge abutment in a prosthetic rehabilitation spanning positions 34-36. In position 34, a GTB implant with a 3.6 mm diameter and 9 mm length was placed.

Since the advent of implantology, the development of implant-prosthetic systems has been constant. In terms of osseointegration, but also in terms of reduced implant size, and long-term predictability, driven by the stability and absence of inflammation of peri-implant tissues. A case report to testify what results are achievable today.