title: Five-year clinical follow-up of prefabricated precision attachments: a comparison of uni- and bilateral removable dental prostheses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical long-term success of prefabricated precision attachments in retaining uni- or bilateral removable dental prostheses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three patients with uni- or bilateral shortened dental arches received removable dental prostheses attached to the residual dentition with two types of precision attachments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 5 years, 70% of bilateral and 25% of unilateral removable dental prostheses remained clinically functional. The most frequent cause of clinical failure was fracture of the abutment teeth for bilateral partial dentures and irreversible wear of the precision attachment for unilateral prostheses. Oral hygiene status significantly improved, and the mean pocket depth of the abutment teeth did not increase after 5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Removable partial denture prostheses, retained bilaterally with precision attachments, are a reliable treatment modality without negative long-term effects on periodontal health, whereas unilateral removable dental prostheses cannot be recommended because of high clinical failure rates.
authors.affiliation: Dental Clinic 2, Department of Prosthodontics, University Clinic Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany. johannes.schmitt@uk-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wichmann
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eitner
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hamel
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holst
mesh_terms: D000044:Dental Abutments; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D019554:Dental Restoration Wear; D003779:Denture Design; D003834:Denture Precision Attachment; D003780:Denture Repair; D003781:Denture Retention; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D016896:Treatment Outcome