Short implants are an increasingly common alternative to other surgical techniques in areas where bone availability is reduced. Despite the advantages they offer, a variety of biological repercussions have been described in the literature that can even lead to the loss of these. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyze the impact of the use of short implants on their survival and on peri-implant bone loss, evaluating the influence that length, diameter, and crown-to-implant ratio (C/I) have on these parameters. This systematic review was based on guidelines proposed by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). An electronic search was conducted using terms related to the use of short implants in partially or totally edentulous patients. A total of five databases were consulted in the literature search: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science. After eliminating the duplicate articles and assessing which ones met the inclusion criteria, 15 articles were included for the qualitative analysis and 14 for the quantitative study. Through meta-analysis, the percentage of implant loss and peri-implant bone loss was estimated. Relating these parameters to length, diameter, and C/I ratio, no significant differences have been found for implant loss (values of p = 0.06, 0.10, and 0.9, respectively for length, diameter, and C/I ratio), nor for peri-implant bone loss (values of p = 0.71, 0.72, and 0.36, respectively for length, diameter, and C/I ratio). In conclusion, the use of short implants does not seem to have a significant influence on marginal bone loss or the survival rate of implants.

Background and objectives: To compare the medium- to long-term mechanical behavior of overdentures with two different retention systems: overdentures with Locator® axial retention, and vertical insertion overdentures with bar retention, used to rehabilitate edentulous maxillar. Material and Methods: This prospective study assessed patients presenting complete maxillary edentulism, rehabilitated by means of implant-supported overdentures (n = 20), 10 with Locator® axial retention (ODA group) and 10 with overdentures on bars (ODB group). Patients also completed a questionnaire to determine their satisfaction with treatment. Results: The mean follow-up time in both groups was 11.4 years, with follow-up times in both groups ranging from 5 to 14 years. The ODA group suffered mechanical complications such as retention loss, need for nylon retention insert changes, resin fracture, and need for relining. In the ODB group, prosthetic dental wear, screw loosening, and complete prosthetic failure were more common. A total of 19 implants failed (23.8%); of these, 11 were in the ODA group (failure rate = 27.5%) and eight in the ODB group (failure rate = 20%). The patient satisfaction questionnaire obtained a mean score of 7.9 out of 10 in the ODA group, and 9.75 in the ODB group. Conclusions: in rehabilitations of edentulous maxillar by means of implant-supported overdentures, both the systems assessed were shown to be effective in the medium to long term. Patients expressed a high level of satisfaction with the treatments received.

Background: Prosthetic cementation using the biologically oriented preparation technique (BOPT) presents challenges in removing excess cement from the gingival sulcus, due to the absence of a finishing line and the impossibility of using absolute isolation with a rubber dam. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of relative isolation using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tape in reducing cement retention during BOPT cementation. Methods: Fifteen 3D-printed resin models were created from an intraoral scan of a patient restored with BOPT in both upper central incisors. Each model included removable gingiva. Splinted polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) provisional crowns were fabricated and cemented with temporary cement. One central incisor was isolated with PTFE (0.1 mm or 0.2 mm), while the contralateral tooth was left unisolated as a control. After debonding, digital scanning and volumetric analysis using root mean square (RMS) deviation were performed to quantify retained cement. Paired t-tests were applied to compare groups. Results: The mean RMS for the PTFE group was 0.1248 ± 0.0519 mm, compared to 0.1973 ± 0.0361 mm in the non-isolated group (p < 0.001). No significant difference was found between PTFE thicknesses of 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm (p = 0.388). Conclusions: PTFE tape is effective for relative isolation when rubber dam placement is not feasible in BOPT restorations. Further clinical studies are recommended to confirm these findings in vivo.