Stability of the screw joints in patients with implant-supported fixed prostheses in edentulous jaws: a 1-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this follow-up study was to evaluate the stability of the screw joint in edentulous patients 1 year after treatment with implant-supported fixed prostheses (Brånemark system).


METHODS
A total of 20 patients were included, 10 treated in the maxilla and 10 in the mandible. The fixed prostheses were removed approximately 1 year after insertion, and the stability of the screw joints was evaluated using a rating scale based upon the CDA quality evaluation criteria of dental care.


RESULTS
All implant-supported fixed prostheses were recorded as stable before the prosthetic screws (gold screws) were unscrewed. "Unacceptable loosening" was observed in 4% of the prosthetic screws and in 29% of the abutment screws.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, only a few of the prosthetic screws showed unacceptable loosening after 1 year of function. The clinical relevance of the observed high occurrence of loose abutment screws could be questioned, as all fixed prostheses were initially recorded as stable.
Ekfeldt
Anders
A
National Orofacial Resource Centre, Odontologen, Göteborg, Sweden. anders.ekfeldt@vgregion.se
Eriksson
Anders
A
Johansson
Lars-Ake
LA
D000368:Aged; D000044:Dental Abutments; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation