Third attempt to place an implant in the same site

Objectives: the aim of the present report is to explore the survival rate of these implants.

Methods: Patients who underwent a third attempt for implant placement in sites where two implants previously failed were evaluated. Patients' medical history and smoking habits were recorded. Implant dimensions and characteristics as well as implant survival were documented.

Results: Overall, 11 third attempt implants in 9 patients were evaluated. Average patients' age at first implantation was 43.7±12.6 years. Five out of the 11 third implant attempts in the same site failed (44.5% failure rate on third attempt). Survived implants were followed for an average of 42.3±35.6 months (range 36-103). Smoking was reported by 3 patents. Overall, mean implant length and diameter did not vary statistically between attempts. Mean implant width/length were 3.6±0.3/11.8±1.1, 3.7±0.3/12.4±1.4, and 3.80±0.3/11.9±1.4mm for first, second and third attempt, respectively (p>0.05).

Conclusions: Third attempt to place an implant in sites where two implants have previously failed, had significantly lower survival rates compare to these figures in pristine sites an even in sites with previously one failure only. Such heroic attempts should only be limited to cases where alternative treatments are un-acceptable to the patient.