Survival Rate
The proportion of implants that remain in situ and are functional at a defined follow-up time point, regardless of any complications.
Full Definition
Implant survival rate is a fundamental outcome measure in clinical implant research, defined as the percentage of implants that are still present and in function at a specified follow-up interval, irrespective of any biological or prosthetic complications. It must be carefully distinguished from 'success rate', which applies stricter criteria including absence of pain, peri-implant pathology, bone loss beyond accepted thresholds, and prosthetic complications. Editors reviewing results sections must ensure that authors do not conflate survival with success, as this significantly inflates perceived outcomes. Survival data should be reported with the denominator clearly stated (implants placed vs. implants available for follow-up). Kaplan–Meier survival curves are the standard statistical presentation.
Usage
Usage note: Never substitute 'survival rate' for 'success rate' without querying the author; they reflect different clinical realities and have distinct benchmark criteria in the literature.
In Context
- "The five-year cumulative survival rate was 97.3%, though the success rate, applying Albrektsson criteria, was 89.1%." — Clinical study results section
- "Editors should query any paper that reports only survival rate without addressing success criteria, as the distinction is clinically significant." — Journal editorial guidelines