title: The outcome of implant overdentures from a prosthodontic perspective: proposal for a classification protocol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article proposes a classification protocol for reporting the outcome of implant overdentures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the literature pertaining to postinsertion prosthodontic procedures for maxillary and mandibular implant overdentures revealed a wide range in the terminology used and methods of reporting outcome, usually as a result of the use of varying designs among different implant systems. A need for comparative evaluation of the prosthodontic success of implant overdentures was identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An existing classification protocol for implant-fixed prostheses containing six objectively defined fields was modified for implant overdentures. This new protocol, which also uses the descriptive fields of success, survival, unknown, dead, and retreatment (repair or failure), provides a method whereby postinsertion prosthodontic procedures and subsequent time to retreatment can be quantified regardless of design, method of attachment, or implant system. A ratio method for identifying prosthodontic treatment cost effectiveness of implant overdentures is included.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This protocol could assist clinicians in their choices of implant overdenture therapy by providing accurate comparisons of varying implant overdenture systems and designs, and by identifying prosthodontic treatment cost effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Rehabilitation, School of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. alan.payne@dent.otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Solomons
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D000044:Dental Abutments; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003779:Denture Design; D003823:Denture Rebasing; D003780:Denture Repair; D003781:Denture Retention; D003828:Denture, Overlay / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D019233:Retreatment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants