Patient's opinion and treatment outcome of fixed rehabilitation on Brånemark implants. A 3-year follow-up study in private dental practices.

In this study, patient opinion on oral rehabilitation by means of Brånemark implants was investigated. All patients were referred to a periodontal clinic for implant installation and treated by one and the same operator. Prosthetic restorations were performed by dentists, who had no previous experience with prostheses on implants, but had completed a postgraduate training course. Patient opinion was obtained through questionnaires, pertaining to satisfaction and oral function. A comparison was made between pre-implant situation, short-term (< 4 months) and long-term functioning (3 years) with the implant-restorative rehabilitation. In total, 61 patients participated in the study; 23 received a full lower arch bridge and 18 a full upper arch bridge, while 20 patients got partial bridges. Of 298 installed implants, 7 failed at abutment connection (2.3%) and 1 during the 3-year follow-up interval (0.3%). The study results indicated that a great majority of patients were very satisfied with the treatment. Comfort with eating, aesthetics, phonetics and overall satisfaction improved significantly and nearly all patients said that they would undergo the treatment again or recommend it to others. Patients experienced their implants as "natural" teeth. The conclusion is that rehabilitation ad modum Brånemark, even in the hands of non-specialized dentists, can be of high quality, improving oral function and satisfying the needs and demands of patients.