Porous ceramic implants in the alveolar ridge of humans. A 3 1/2-year follow-up study

Porous ceramic (Al2O3) material with pore size of 100--750 micrometer was used for alveolar ridge augmentation in five patients. Clinical and radiographic examination at observation times varying from 11 months to 3 1/2 years revealed that seven out of a total number of nine implants were in function, covered by normal soft tissue. All patients were wearing complete dentures over the implant sites. In one of the patients treated with three ceramic pieces placed subperiosteally to restore alveolar height, one of the implants was lost after 3 1/2 years. In another individual, a minor dehiscence was found on examination after 2 1/2 years' implantation time. Interviews revealed that one of the patients had hypoesthesia and paresthesia in the mental nerve area on one side after ridge augmentation, while the remaining four patients had no complaints. All five individuals told of considerable improvement of denture stability after the implantation procedures.