Cost analysis of fabricating implant prostheses.

This prospective study analyzed the time and costs involved in fabricating implant prostheses in private practice and the factors affecting prosthesis design. Esthetic was the most commonly reported factor influencing the decision to use a fixed or removable prosthesis, while cost was infrequently cited. The single-tooth fixed implant required the least time to fabricate and had the lowest clinical fees, while the removable bar/clip prosthesis had the highest fees and demanded the greatest amount of time to fabricate. Single-tooth fixed and individual attachment removable prostheses generated approximately half the hourly income produced by multiple-unit fixed and bar/clip removable implant prostheses, and the individual attachment design had the highest ratio of expenses to income.