Comparative analysis of the peri-implant tissue response of standard versus short implants in smoker, non-smoker and former smoker patients: a one-year retrospective study

Abstract

The aim of this clinical study is to evaluate, through some clinical and radiographic tests, the different biological responses of hard and soft tissues adjacent to the standard or to reduced-length implants in smokers, non-smokers and former smokers. This study was a comparative analysis of three groups of patients. Patients were eligible if they needed an implant in the posterior areas of the maxilla and mandible, both with a sufficient amount of bone, using implants that are standard or with small heights, and using small implants so that they could avoid any regenerative bone therapy aimed at increasing vertical size. The clinical and X-ray assessment was performed after 4/6 months (T1) and after one year (T2). The main results were recordings of clinical aspects such as presence of inflammation, color and gum appearance assessments, and X-ray assessment differentiating maxilla and mandible implants. Averages were conducted to estimate differences between study groups. One-hundred patients were included, with a total of 200 implants: 100 standard sized implants and 100 short implants. In the individual study groups, there is no difference between the types of implants, and we have favorable and unfavorable conditions. The reported data and the analyzed studies are insufficient to define the influence of smoking in the assessment of the long-term predictability of implants.