Background: The aims of this study were to evaluate the long-term survival rates of short dental implants in posterior areas and to analyze the influence of different factors on implant survival.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study design was used. A total of 293 subjects received 532 short implants between 2001 and 2004. All implants were placed by two experienced surgeons, and rehabilitations were done by three prosthodontists. Each implant failure was analyzed carefully. The potential influence of demographic factors, clinical factors, surgery-dependent factors, and prosthetic variables on implant survival was studied. Implant survival was analyzed using a life-table analysis (Wilcoxon [Gehan] test).

Results: The overall survival rates of short implants were 99.2% and 98.7% for the implant- and subject-based analyses, respectively. The mean follow-up period was 31 ± 12.3 months. Two of 532 implants were lost during the observation period. None of the variables studied were statistically associated with implant failure.

Conclusion: Treatment with short implants can be considered safe and predictable if used under strict clinical protocols.