Implant-supported crowns with locking taper implant-abutment connection: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Michele Costa de Oliveira Ribeiro; Vanessa Felipe Vargas-Moreno; Rafael Soares Gomes; Fernanda Faot; Altair Antoninha Del Bel Cury; Raissa Micaella Marcello-Machado

doi:10.1016/j.prosdent.2022.06.005

Implant-supported crowns with locking taper implant-abutment connection: A systematic review and meta-analysis

J Prosthet Dent. 2022 Jul 18:S0022-3913(22)00379-1. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2022.06.005. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Michele Costa de Oliveira Ribeiro¹, Vanessa Felipe Vargas-Moreno¹, Rafael Soares Gomes², Fernanda Faot³, Altair Antoninha Del Bel Cury⁴, Raissa Micaella Marcello-Machado⁵

Affiliations

¹ PhD student, Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
² Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Technology and Sciences (UniFTC), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
³ Professor, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas (UFPel), RS, Brazil.
⁴ Professor, Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
⁵ Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: raissammm@gmail.com.

PMID: 35864024
DOI: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2022.06.005

Abstract

Statement of problem: Implant-supported single crowns are more prone to screw loosening than splinted prostheses. Therefore, the locking taper system, which has a screwless abutment, may perform better when associated with this type of rehabilitation. However, systematic reviews on this system are lacking.

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the clinical performance and complications of single crowns retained by the locking taper system.

Material and methods: This systematic review was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under CRD42020189921. An electronic search was made in 5 databases and 3 other sources up to February 2021 to select prospective clinical studies evaluating the performance of single crowns retained by the locking taper system by using the outcomes implant survival, success rate, complications, marginal bone loss (MBL), and prosthesis success rate. Four meta-analyses grouped according to the follow-up intervals were performed. The risk of bias of the selected studies was evaluated by using the RoB 2 checklist for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and Downs and Black for uncontrolled studies.

Results: Twelve studies were included: 9 prospective cohort studies and 3 RCTs. A survival rate of 99% (98% to 99%) and a success rate of 97% (92% to 99%) after 5 years were found. Of the total, 2.6% biological and 2.9% prosthetic complications were described. The prosthesis success rate was 97% (96% to 98%) after 5 years. An average of -0.73 mm (-0.93 to -0.52) was found for the MBL after 5 years. The risk-of-bias assessment showed 2 RCTs with high risk and 1 RCT with low risk of bias. Among uncontrolled studies, 2 were classified as poor and 7 as fair.

Conclusions: Single crowns retained by locking taper implants can be safely indicated based on the high survival and success rates achieved in the long term, the maintenance of bone level stability over time, and the low incidence of complications.

Publication types

Review