The longitudinal clinical effectiveness of osseointegrated dental implants in anterior partially edentulous patients.

For many years the technique of osseointegration in the anterior part of the mouth has been used with predictable success to treat completely edentulous arches. This prospective study was begun in the mid-1980s to adapt this technique to the partially edentulous situation in this same anterior region of both the maxillae and mandible. Ninety-four implants were placed into 34 edentulous areas in 30 partially edentulous patients. Forty-seven (94%) of the 50 implants placed into maxillae and 39 (88.6%) of the 44 placed into mandibles remain in function after periods of loading ranging from 2 to 8 years (mean 4.7 years). This average success rate of 91.5% was sufficient to ensure a 100% resolution of the selected patients' maladaptive prosthodontic experiences. These results suggest that past experiences with osseointegration in the anterior of the completely edentulous mouth can be replicated in patients with anterior partial edentulism.