Patient evaluation after treatment with maxillary implant-supported overdentures.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and compare outcome among patients after implant overdenture treatment in the maxilla.


METHODS
The study sample comprised two groups of patients: group 1, in which the patients were planned for overdenture treatment, and group 2, in which the patients originally were planned for a fixed prosthesis in the maxilla but had overdenture treatment owing to implant failures, resulting in an insufficient number of implants to support a fixed prosthesis. All patients treated with maxillary implant-supported overdentures in the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Central Hospital, Skövde, Sweden, between 1993 and 2002 received a questionnaire at their yearly follow-up visit with nine questions related to their treatment. All questions had visual analogue scale response alternatives ranging from a negative to a positive opinion.


RESULTS
Nineteen patients, 10 in group 1 and 9 in group 2, completed the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 86%. Both groups expressed a high satisfaction rate, and few regretted their choice of treatment. Patients planned for overdenture treatment (group 1) reported significantly fewer speech problems after treatment compared with those originally planned for a fixed prosthesis (group 2, p < .05). No other significant differences between the two groups were seen.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitations of the present study, it can be concluded that maxillary implant overdenture treatment may be considered a viable option among patients with an insufficient number of implants for a fixed prosthesis.
Kronström
Mats
M
Department of Dental Clinical Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. mats.kronstrom@dal.ca
Widbom
Christin
C
Soderfeldt
Bjorn
B