Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiographic outcome of a prospective 5-year longitudinal multicenter test of a simplified implantology concept comprising an abutment-free implant system (Cresco) and a new method for fabrication of passively fitting superstructures, the Cresco Ti Precision method.
Materials and methods: The tests were carried out at three different centers. Sixty partially or completely edentulous patients were restored by fixed implant-supported superstructures fabricated according to the Cresco Ti Precision method. In all, 215 Cresco implants were placed for the support of the superstructures. For various reasons, eight patients (13%) could not be followed through the 5 years. The radiographic measurements were recorded from radiographs exposed perpendicular to the implants.
Results: The initial implant failure rate (during the healing phase) was 2%, and the survival rate after loading was 98%. The mean peri-implant bone loss was 0.29 mm (SD 0.57). Of the measured sites, 71% showed a crestal bone loss of less than 0.5 mm. Very few mechanical complications were observed. This was attributed to the passively fitting superstructures.
Conclusion: The results from the present multicenter test demonstrated that the abutment-free Cresco implantology concept is a reliable alternative method for implant-supported fixed prosthetic rehabilitation of edentulous and partially edentulous jaws.