title: Treatment of the atrophic edentulous maxilla with implant-supported overdentures: a review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article reviews the literature on maxillary implant-supported overdentures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective studies and clinical reports comprise the majority of publications, with few prospective studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maxillary implant-supported overdentures are associated with implant and prosthesis survival rates similar to those of fixed implant prostheses when patients are matched for bone quantity and quality. High failure rates are associated with extreme atrophy, poor bone quality, and the use of short implants, which represent situations in which overdentures are most commonly used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further research is required to elucidate the most appropriate implant number and distribution as well as the most favorable prosthetic constructions.
authors.affiliation: Leeds Dental Institute, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Närhi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Baat
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kalk
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000601:surgery; D001284:Atrophy / Q000601:surgery; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies