Abstract
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to compare survival rates and marginal bone resorption of the Lifecore (LC) Restore (R) Implant System with the benchmark Nobel Biocare (NB) MK II (R) Implant System.
Materials and Methods:
All implants were inserted by the same surgeon and all radiological analyses were performed by the same radiologist. Two hundred ninety LC implants were analyzed radiologically after 1 year and compared with the same number of NB implants serving as a historical reference group. After 5 years, 200 LC implants could be compared with 224 NB implants. Each implant was monitored for exposed threads, as compared with the baseline registrations.
Results:
No significant differences were found between the two implant systems regarding survival rates (LC 100% and NB 99.2%). Considering the findings of this study, the two implant systems compared might be regarded as clones. Nevertheless, because of dissimilar onset of threads, about 1 mm more implant-retaining bone anchorage is gained with the Lifecore Restore Implants as compared with NB MK II Implants.
Conclusions:
Based on the assumption that > 3 exposed NB threads correspond to > 4 exposed LC threads, significantly more bone loss (p < .01) could be demonstrated for the NB implants after 5 years. Thus, it may be justified to consider the differences in implant design to have a decisive clinical relevance.