Evaluation of Stability and Survival Rates of Short vs Standard Implants in Posterior Mandible: A Prospective Clinical Trial

surpassed by the replacement of partially edentulous arches with short-term implants, thereby increasing the morbidity postoperatively and reducing the risk of complications as well.So, as an alternative to these surgical procedures, short implants have been developed to replace natural teeth in atrophic ridges. 1,5n the available implant literature, as of today, various authors have defined short dental implants, as per their criteria, wherein some consider 10 mm as short, while others consider <6 mm as short. 1,6 IntroductIonDental implants have emerged as the most predictable means of replacing lost teeth, with the primary goal of oral rehabilitation to improve the patient's quality of life, thereby enhancing the functions and esthetics of the stomatognathic system.Edentulism in the posterior mandible often limits patients' ability to perform daily routines and also plays a significant role in their functional activity. 1Although many treatment modalities, such as fixed partial dentures and removable partial dentures, have existed since time immemorial in dentistry, implants, which are a much recent innovation, do play a significant role in replacing natural teeth because of their high survival rates, thereby ensuring enhanced function and psychological comfort to the patient. [2][3]3][4] Following extraction, the bony socket usually undergoes many dimensional changes.These horizontal and vertical changes in bone urge the clinicians in routine practice to rely on several surgical techniques, such as GBR (guided bone regeneration), ridge augmentation procedures, and nerve transposition, in order to attain adequate bone volume so that standard implants can be placed. 1Moreover, these surgical procedures are not only technically sensitive but also subjected to postoperative complications, such as pain in the surgical site, graft resorption, and neurosensory disturbances, thereby affecting the compliance of the patient. 5ugmentation of bone vertically, which is usually associated with higher financial costs and prolonged treatment time, is 1,2,4-