Which type of implant placement procedure is better, one or two stage? It seems that dentists who place implants have their own opinions, backed by personal experience and training. A new study posted by The Cochrane Library suggests that the methods offer similar results for patients.
The study’s authors, , , , , and conclude: "If these preliminary results will be confirmed by more robust trials, a 1-stage procedure might be preferable since it avoids one minor surgical intervention and shortens the waiting time to provide the final restoration. There might be specific situations though, such as when optimal implant stability is not obtained at placement or when barriers are used in conjunction with implants, in which a 2-stage approach might be preferable." The study was based on only 45 patients, so more evidence is required for solid statistics.