title: The transmandibular implant: a 12-year follow-up study.
abstract: A clinical study of the use of the transmandibular implant for reconstructing severely atrophic mandibles in preparation for an implant-borne dental prosthesis was performed. This study included 368 patients with a mean height of the mandible of 10 mm. They were examined clinically, radiographically, and by means of a questionnaire. The follow-up period for 185 patients was 5 years or more, and 55 were followed 10 years or more. Removable dentures were made for 350 patients, and fixed bridges for 18 patients. Forty-three patients had reversible complications, one patient had unilateral hypesthesia, and six patients had their implant removed. Reversible complications of infection, gingival hyperplasia, loading of individual posts, and fenestration of threads were controlled without deleterious effects on the gingival, mucosal, or osseous tissues. The transmandibular implant system was shown to successfully restore function of the severely atrophic mandible in a more predictable manner than augmentation procedures.
authors.affiliation: Deaconesses Hospital, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bosker
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van Dijk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003779:Denture Design; D003834:Denture Precision Attachment; D003824:Denture, Complete; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013516:Oral Surgical Procedures, Preprosthetic / Q000379:methods*; D011475:Prosthesis Failure