title: A meta-analysis of prosthodontic complication rates of implant-supported fixed dental prostheses in edentulous patients after an observation period of at least 5 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To systematically review clinical studies on prosthodontic complication rates of implant fixed dental prostheses in edentulous patients after an observation period of at least 5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was conducted using different electronic databases. Specific terms were used for the database search, which spanned the years 1990 to 2008. The search was augmented by using the option of "related articles" as well as by hand searching of references and relevant journals. Relevant studies were selected according to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Agreement between reviewers was determined by using Cohen kappa coefficients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The initial database search yielded 8,216 relevant titles. Following the filtering process, 19 studies were finally selected. No study directly compared the incidence of prosthodontic complications of complete implant-supported metal-ceramic versus metal-acrylic resin fixed prostheses in the completely edentulous patient. Studies of metal-ceramic prostheses were scarce and short term.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metal-acrylic resin complete implant fixed prostheses presented with various prosthodontic complications after long-term function. The most frequent complications were veneer fracture and material wear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fixed Prosthesis and Implant Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bozini
authors.forename: Haralampos
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Petridis
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Garefis
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garefis
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D000044:Dental Abutments / Q000009:adverse effects; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D019554:Dental Restoration Wear; D003801:Dental Veneers; D003779:Denture Design; D003824:Denture, Complete; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003722:Dental Alloys; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials; D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys; D003776:Dental Porcelain