AIM:

Short implants are manufactured for use in atrophic regions of the jaw. Therefore, the current does not sufficiently reveal a direct correlation between the impact of implant length on implant survival. The purpose of this systematic review was to compile the evidence of short implant survival in atrophied jaws.

METHODS:

Electronic and manual literature searches were performed by two independent reviewers in several databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register, for articles up to September 2015 using the following terms in some combinations: "short implant", "mandible/atrophied jaws", and "implant survival/ survival rate/ survival analysis".

RESULTS:

The 19 included studies present in average 5.5 years (range 1.0-20.0 years) follow-up and 96.1% (range 73.4-100.0 percent) survival rate of the short implants in atrophied mandibular.

CONCLUSIONS:

This systematic review found evidences regarding to safety of short implant placement in atrophied jaws although stronger evidence is essential to confirm this finding.