Immediate Loading of Fixed Complete Denture Prosthesis Supported by 4-8 Implants Placed Using Guided Surgery: A 5-Year Prospective Study on 66 Patients with 356 Implants.

BACKGROUND

High primary implant stability is considered one of the main factors necessary for achieving predictable treatment outcomes with immediately loaded implant-supported screw-retained fixed complete denture prosthesis (FCDP).

PURPOSE

To evaluate the 5-year clinical and radiographic outcomes of immediately loaded implants placed in edentulous patients using computer-assisted template-guided surgery to support a FCDP.

MATERIALS & METHODS: Patients in need to be restored with a FCDP in the mandible or maxilla were included in this prospective study/ and treated using computer-assisted template-guided surgery. Implant sites were prepared in order to achieve an insertion torque ranging between 35-45 Ncm in the mandible and 45-55 Ncm in the maxilla. A prefabricated screw-retained provisional prosthesis was delivered the day of the surgery. Outcomes were: implant and prosthesis cumulative survival rate (CSR), any complications, and peri-implant marginal bone loss (MBL).

RESULTS

Sixty-six patients received 356 implants to support 68 FCDPs. Each patient received 4-8 implants. Seven implants failed in six patients, resulting in a CSR of 98.1%. Two definitive prostheses failed resulting in CSR of 97.1%. Mean MBL of 1.62 ± 0.41 mm was reported at the 5-year follow-up. Five implants (1.4%) showed a mean mesio-distal peri-implant bone loss greater than 3.0 mm and received nonsurgical therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

immediately loaded implants placed in edentulous patients using computer-assisted template-guided surgery to support a FCDP is a valid treatment concept in the medium term follow-up, for edentulous patients.