Objective: To study molar area implantation with screw-typed implant based on the specific anatomic properties of inferior alveolar nerve.
Methods: Depending on the degree of alveolar atrophy in mandibular molar area, the direct implantation, the buccal-to mandibular-canal implantation, and the repositioning inferior-alveolar-nerve implantation were employed. During the period of 1992 to 1998, a total of 22 cases of this kind with 45 dental implants were restored. The follow-up period was 5 years.
Results: 2 dental implants were lost respectively after 3 months of insertion and after 1 year of restoration. All the 43 others, however, still remained complete osseointegration, with no obvious crestal bone rebesorption and with excellent function. The 5-year accumulating survival rate of dental implants was 96%.
Conclusions: These three surgical techniques, to a large extent, can solve the problems of mandibular molar area implantation. The key to success of each technique is the selection of patient and the selection of surgical project.