Cantilever fixed prostheses utilizing dental implants: a 10-year retrospective analysis.
OBJECTIVE
The dental literature has been unclear about long-term success of fixed cantilever prostheses supported by dental implants. The disappointing results reported when cantilever fixed partial dentures (FPDs) are supported with natural teeth are not directly applicable to implant cantilever FPDs. This article reports on 10 years of implant-retained fixed prostheses primarily in the maxillary arch using the ITI dental implant system.


METHODS
Sixty cantilever prostheses using 115 ITI dental implants on 36 patients were placed and monitored over a 10-year period.


RESULTS
No implant fractures, abutment fractures, porcelain fractures, prosthesis fractures, soft tissue recession, or radiographic bone loss were recorded. All 60 cantilevered prostheses remain in satisfactory function.


CONCLUSIONS
Positive, long-term results, using implant-retained cantilever FPDs can be achieved by: (1) using a rough surface implant of 4.1 mm or greater; (2) using an implant/abutment design that reduces stacked moving parts and reduces the implant-to-crowns ratio; and (3) using a cementable prosthesis design that eliminates the need for occlusal screw retention.
Becker
Curtis M
CM
Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Colorado Health Science Center, School of Dentistry, Denver, Colorado, USA. cebecker@earthlink.net
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002484:Cementation; D000044:Dental Abutments; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003781:Denture Retention / Q000379:methods; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013499:Surface Properties
D015921:Dental Implants