The tissue-integrated prosthesis in the treatment of edentulous patients. A follow-up study.

This paper reports the results of clinical series of osseointegrated implants (BiotesTM) at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm. From 1980 to 1985, 350 implants were installed in 68 upper jaws and 440 implants in 83 lower jaws. After observation periods of 1 to 6 years, 307 (88%) maxillary implants and 434 (99%) mandibular implants were fully functional. Of 128 bridges and 23 overdentures 124 (97%) and 21 (91%) respectively were in function at the end of the observation time. The most frequent tissue complications were fistulae (8 cases) and mucosal hyperplasia adjacent to abutments (11 cases). The most frequent prosthetic complications were phonetic problems in the maxilla only (10 cases), acrylic fractures in bridges (3 cases) and fractures or distortion of the metallic framework (2 cases). The results indicated that treatment with osseointegrated implants (BiotesTM) is a safe method with predictable long-term prognosis for rehabilitation of the edentulous patient.