Reconstruction of the edentulous maxillary arch by using prosthodontic implants.

This article presented the treatment of the edentulous maxillary arch by using the Core-Vent implant system. The Core-Vent implant system can provide a suitable foundation for the support of a fixed or removable prosthesis. The results of the 17-year Branemark study as reported by Niznick indicates that "implants placed within the last 5 years of the study demonstrated a 95% success in the upper jaw and a 99% success in the lower jaw with success being defined as the maintenance of osseointegration." Niznick reported "that the clinical results achieved with the Swedish osseointegrated implants fulfill and exceed the criteria set by the 1978 Harvard Conference on dental implants (5 years success in 75%) but the implant procedure and prosthetic application lack the simplicity, versatility, and economy to serve as a viable alternative to conventional dentistry." As implant techniques become widely used, the cost of such procedures should become more affordable. Important modifications of implant systems should provide greater reliability and longevity of the restorations.