LONG-TERM SURVIVAL RATES OF IMPLANTS SUPPORTING OVERDENTURES.

Source

Valencia University Medical and Dental School., DDS, Department of Oral Surgery and Implantology, Valencia University Medical and Dental School.

Abstract

Abstract Aims: To evaluate survival rates of dental implants in patients wearing maxillary and mandibular overdentures in relation to age, sex, smoking, implant splinting or non-splinting, the maxilla rehabilitated and number of implants per dental arch. Methods: This was a prospective study of patients who were completely edentulous in either mandible or maxilla or both, rehabilitated with implant-retained overdentures, with a follow-up of at least three years. Results: 95 patients with 107 overdentures supported by 360 implants were included in the study. Rehabilitations were monitored over an average of 95±20.3 months (range 36-159). Implant survival in the maxilla was 91.9% and in the mandible 98.6%, representing a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Age, sex and implant splinting did not influence survival rates significantly. Smokers presented a lower survival rate. Implant numbers in the maxilla had a significant influence on survival, 100% for six but 85.7% for four. Three mandibular implants achieved higher survival rates (100%) but with two (96.6%) or four (99%) survival was lower, although without significant difference. Conclusion: Long-term results suggest that three-implant mandibular overdentures have an equivalent survival rate to four-implant. In the maxilla, results showed that six implants may be the best treatment strategy. For smokers with fewer implants retaining the overdentures, there were higher numbers of implant failures.