Since 1991 an ongoing implant research project has been gathering data at several V.A. Centers, the Dental Implant Clinical Research Group (DICRG). Involving over 85 dentists at 32 diverse centers with the data collected and interpreted by a single statistical center, the information from the group is probably the most reliable ongoing research being reported. Once a year they meet to report their findings. The 1997 meeting had several interesting if not esoteric findings:

Paul Lambert et al (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 55:12-18 1997 suppl 5) reported that the greatest difference in implant survival at second stage surgery occurred after the surgeons ninth case, where failure rate decreased by more than 50% (from 5.9% to 2.4%). Proof that there is a definite surgical learning curve.

C. Daniel Dent, et al (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 55:19-24 1997 suppl 5) discussed the influence of preoperative antibiotics on implant success. An analysis of 2,641 implants placed and uncovered has shown a higher implant failure rate in patents that did not receive preoperative antibiotics. If adequate doses of preoperative antibiotics were not used the failure rate of implants through stage two surgery increased approximately two to three times.

Paul Lambert, et al (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 55:25-30 1997 suppl 5) demonstrated a greater than 50% reduction of postoperative complications with the immediate postoperative use of Chlorhexidine rinses. Since 2% of implant failures occurred without infectious complication and 12% of implants with infectious complications failed, this is a significant factor.

Anthony Casino, et al (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 55:31-37 1997 suppl 5) demonstrated no difference in implant survival, from placement through second stage exposure, with a crestal v. remote incision.