Technical complications of implant-supported fixed partial dentures in partially edentulous cases after an average observation period of 5 years.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this prospective long-term study was to evaluate the incidence of the most common technical problems, namely screw loosening, screw fracture, fracturing of veneering porcelain and framework fracture in implant-supported fixed partial dentures (FPDs), and assess the survival and success rate (event-free survival) after 5 years of function.


METHODS
In 76 partially edentulous patients, a total of 205 3i-implants (machined surface) were placed and restored with 112 implant-supported FPDs (46 single crowns, 81 splinted crowns, seven FPD bridges and 23 FPDs with cantilevers). The survival rate of FPDs supported by implants was 94.5% (CI-95: 90.1-98.8) after an average observation period of 5 years. The success rate (event-free survival) of the FPDs was 80% (CI-95: 87.3-72.7). After an observation period of 5 years the cumulative incidence of screw loosening was 6.7% (CI-95: 1.8-11.5), the cumulative incidence for screw fracture was 3.9% (CI-95: 0.1-7.7). Fracture of the veneering porcelain occurred in 5.7% (CI-95: 1.2-10.2) of all FPDs. Fracturing of the suprastructure framework was rare (1%; CI-95: 0-2.9). The overall complication incidence after 5 years was highest in the group of FPDs with cantilever, which showed the lowest success rate 68.6% (CI-95: 50-87.3), followed by single crowns (77.6%; CI-95: 53.3-100) and splinted crowns (86.1%; CI-95: 59.5-100). No complication occurred in FPD bridges.


CONCLUSIONS
Fixed partial dentures supported by 3i-implants showed low technical complications rates, the most common being loosening of the abutment screw. Managing these complications can cause extra amount of chair-side time and patient dissatisfaction.
Kreissl
Marion E
ME
Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, University Hospital, Freiburg, Germany. marion.kreissl@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Gerds
Thomas
T
Muche
Robert
R
Heydecke
Guido
G
Strub
Jörg R
JR
D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention / Q000379:methods; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000534:rehabilitation; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies
D015921:Dental Implants