Table 1. Main characteristics of the studies selected.
| Study | Study Design | Population | Implants Brand | Implants Number (size length x width) | Augmentation Procedure | Results | Conclusions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felice et al. 2010 26 | RCT | N = 60 patients F/M gender ratio: 38/22 Age range: 40-83 years |
NanoTite - Biomet 3i (Palm Beach, USA)) | 60 short (7 x 4 mm) 61 longer (10, 11.5, 13, 15 x 4 mm) |
Vertical augmentation of mandibles with inorganic bovine bone blocks. | IF: 3 Longer and 1 Short MBL: Short 1.79 + 0.54 mm Longer 1.65 + 0.42 mm |
Interpositional bovine block grafting and placement of short implants achieved good and similar results. Short implants might be a preferable choice when the bone height is limited as the treatment is faster, cheaper and with less morbidity. |
| Esposito et al. 2011 28 | RCT (split mouth design | N = 30 patients F/M gender ratio: 17/13 Age range: 37-70 years |
MegaGen Implant Co. (Gyongbuck, South Korea) | 60 short (5 x 6 mm) 68 longer (10 x 6 mm) |
Interpositional bone blocks in mandibles or particulated bone in augmented maxillary sinuses. | IF: 2 Longer and 1 Short MBL: Short: 1.30 + 0..57mm Longer: 1.48 + 0.50 mm |
All techniques provided good and similar results up to 1 year after loading, however, 5 mm short implants might be a preferable choice to augmentation procedures |
| Pistilli et al. 2013a 29 | RCT (parallel group design | N = 80 patients F/M gender ratio: 55/25 Age range: 57-75 years |
MegaGen Implant Co. (Gyeongbuk, South Korea) | 68 short (5 x 5 mm) 68 longer (11.5, 13, 15 x 5 mm) |
Equine bone blocks in mandibles or particulated porcine bone in augmented maxillary sinuses. | IF: 2 Longer and 1 Short MBL: Mandible – Short: 1.18+ 0.29mm Longer: 1.36 + 0.28mm Maxilla – Short: 1.16 ± 0.30 mm Longer: 1.53 ±0.59 mm |
One year post loading, 5 x 5mm implants achieved similar (in the maxilla) if not better (in the mandible) results than longer implants placed in augmented bone |
| Pistilli et al. 2013b 8 | RCT (split mouth design) | N = 40 patients F/M gender ratio: 19/21 Age range: 55-85 years |
Southern Implants (Irene, South Africa) | 80 short (6 x 4 mm) 91 longer (≥10 x4 mm) |
Equine bone blocks in mandibles or particulated porcine bone in augmented maxillary sinuses. | IF: 3 Longer MBL: Mandible – Short: 1.33 + 0,22 mm Longer: 1.44+ 0,21mm Maxilla – Short: 1.41 + 0,31 mm Longer: 1.53 + 0,29 mm |
Short implants may be as effective, if not more effective, than longer implants placed in augmented posterior jaws |
| Thoma et al. 2015 30 | RCT (parallel group design | N = 101 patients F/M gender ratio: 52/49 Age range: 20-75 years |
Astra Tech (Dentsply Implants, (Mölndal, Sweden) | 67 short (6 x 4 mm) 70 longer (11-15 x 4 mm) |
Sinus lift procedure using particulated bovine bone material. | IF: 1 Longer and 2 Short | Both treatment modalities are safe and successful rendering a high implant survival rate. |
| Felice et al. 2015 27 | RCT | N = 20 patients F/M gender ratio: 12/8 Age range: 43-70 years |
Zimmer Biomet (Florida, USA) | 16 short (5-6 x 5 mm) 18 longer (10 x 6 mm) |
Sinus lift procedure using granular inorganic bovine bone substitute. | IF: none MBL (one year after loading): Short: 0.70 ± 0.19 mm Longer: 0.87 ± 0.21 mm |
Both techniques achieved excellent and similar results. |
| Bechara et al. 2016 31 | RCT | N=53 patients F/M gender ratio: 34/19 Age range: 21-76 years |
MegaGen Implant Co (Gyeongbuk, South Korea) | 45 short (6 x 4-8 mm) 45 Longer (10-, 11.5-, 13-, or 15-mm x 4-8 mm) |
Sinus lift procedure using a collagenated porcine particulate bone graft. | IF: 2 Longer MBL (mean): 1 year – Short: 0.14 mm Longer: 0.21 mm 3 years – Short: 0.20 mm Longer: 0.27 mm |
Both treatment modalities showed similar results. Short implants might be preferable, because the treatment is faster and less expensive. |
RCT =Randomized clinical trial ; F/M= female/male; Implant failure = IF; Marginal bone loss = MB