Interproximal Open Contacts Between Implant Restorations and Adjacent Teeth. Prevalence - Causes - Possible Solutions

Abstract

Purpose: To present the prevalence and contributing factors of interproximal contact loss (ICL) between implant restorations and adjacent teeth, and to provide recommendations for possible prevention and treatment of this complication.

Materials and methods: The authors explored the dental literature on PubMed on ICL between implants and adjacent teeth, interproximal contacts, open contacts, teeth migration causes, facial bone formation, and facial bone changes.

Results: ICL between fixed implant prostheses and adjacent teeth has been reported. A literature search revealed 7 studies showing a high prevalence of ICL between implant prostheses and adjacent teeth. The literature indicates that this ICL is greater in the mesial aspect in comparison with the distal. As identified by the literature review, ICL in the maxilla ranged between 18% and 66% versus 37% to 54% in the mandible. ICL might occur as early as 3 months after prosthetic treatment. The literature review documented possible tooth migration causes, crown-related causes, and bone formation/growth-related causes of ICL.

Conclusions: ICL is a common multifactorial implant complication. The clinical condition will dictate if the implant crown needs to be modified/replaced or the natural tooth needs to be restored to reestablish interproximal contact between an implant prosthesis and adjacent tooth. Periodic evaluations of interproximal contacts between implant restorations and the adjacent teeth and the use of screw-retained restorations due to ease of removal is recommended to diagnose and mitigate the problem. An orthodontic retainer or occlusal guard may help prevent ICL between the implant restoration and the adjacent tooth.

Keywords: Interproximal open contact; facial growth; implant complication; implant prosthesis; tooth migration.