title: Maxillary overdentures supported by four splinted direct metal laser sintering implants: a 3-year prospective clinical study.
abstract: Purpose. Nowadays, the advancements in direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) technology allow the fabrication of titanium dental implants. The aim of this study was to evaluate implant survival, complications, and peri-implant marginal bone loss of DMLS implants used to support bar-retained maxillary overdentures. Materials and Methods. Over a 2-year period, 120 implants were placed in the maxilla of 30 patients (18 males, 12 females) to support bar-retained maxillary overdentures (ODs). Each OD was supported by 4 implants splinted by a rigid cobalt-chrome bar. At each annual follow-up session, clinical and radiographic parameters were assessed. The outcome measures were implant failure, biological and prosthetic complications, and peri-implant marginal bone loss (distance between the implant shoulder and the first visible bone-to-implant contact, DIB). Results. The 3-year implant survival rate was 97.4% (implant-based) and 92.9% (patient-based). Three implants failed. The incidence of biological complication was 3.5% (implant-based) and 7.1% (patient-based). The incidence of prosthetic complication was 17.8% (patient-based). No detrimental effects on marginal bone level were evidenced. Conclusions. The use of 4 DMLS titanium implants to support bar-retained maxillary ODs seems to represent a safe and successful procedure. Long-term clinical studies on a larger sample of patients are needed to confirm these results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Morphological Science, Dental School, University of Varese, Via Giuseppe Piatti 10, 21100 Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mangano
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, 00193 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizia
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7998-613X
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luongo
authors.affiliation: Dental Research Division, Department of Periodontology, Guarulhos University, Praca Teresa Cristina 229, 07023070 Guarulhos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jamil Awad
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shibli
authors.affiliation: Division of Periodontics, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, P.O. Box 60169, Riyadh 11545, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sukumaran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anil
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Morphological Science, Dental School, University of Varese, Via Giuseppe Piatti 10, 21100 Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4419-4674
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mangano