Are today’s frontlines still clearly separated – advocates of long implants on one side, advocates of short implants on the other side? Two experts take a stand in another episode of Pros and Cons in the EDI-Journal. In general, implants with a length from 8 to 10 mm are seen as a standard-length. 11 to 14 mm are regarded as long. Implants with a length in between 4 and 5 mm are called ultra-short.
Dr Jörg Neugebauer states in the interview that he was able to achieve long-term success with the stable fixed restoration on 5-mm implants after a failed vertical augmentation with further loss of local bone. In risky situations like this, he would rather use an ultra-short implant than a longer one.
On the other side, Professor Jürgen Becker counts on longer implants. Especially when implants are immediately placed in fresh extraction sockets where they have to cover the entire length of the original root. Both experts agree on the point that in the case of a failure, shorter implants are easier to explant.
The whole article can be found on pp. 42, 43 in the EDI Journal 02/2019. In the interview, the experts also state their opinions on angulated and diameter-reduced implants.
