Complete Full Arch Supported by Short Implant (<8 mm) in Edentulous Jaw: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate survival rate, marginal bone levels, and full arch prosthetic success on short implants when placed in areas of severely resorbed and edentulous mandibles. Methods: This is a systematic review of all randomized controlled trials of at least 10 patients with a control group in which bone augmentations were performed that were published between January 2010 and February 2023. Only three relevant studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: This review showed that short-term dental implant survival rates ranged from 94.2% to 97.4% with a five-year follow-up, and prosthetic success rates ranged around 62% during the same follow-up. The mean marginal bone level values of the affected short implants ranged from 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm. Conclusions: The data obtained demonstrated that short dental implants positioned with criterion and precision as a full-arch fixed support are a valid therapeutic choice for the medium–long-term rehabilitation of severe edentulous mandibular atrophy.