title: Maxillary Four Implant-retained Overdentures via Locator® Attachment: Intermediate-term Results from a Retrospective Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maxillary overdentures have been utilized to restore oral function in scenarios where limited bone structure represents a drawback for financial issues and for cases where oral hygiene is uncertain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the intermediate-term clinical outcome of four locator attachment retaining maxillary overdentures and to test their reliability.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was conducted from January 2007 to October 2013. After the placement of four maxillary dental implants and a healing period of approximately 3 months, all the implants were restored with locator-retained overdentures with partial palatal coverage. Subjects and implant characteristics, implant position (anterior vs posterior maxilla), bone quality, and opposing dentition were recorded. Peri-implant clinical parameters and marginal bone loss (MBL) were evaluated after delivery of the final prosthesis and annually thereafter. The performance of locator components and the prosthetic restoration were also recorded at follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 104 implants were placed in 26 subjects (11 women, 15 men; mean age, 64 years; age range, 55-76 years). One implant failed before loading. One subject dropped out of the study during a mean follow-up period of 46 months (range: 7-73 months), achieving an overall survival rate of 95.2%. Clinical parameters revealed healthy tissues around most of the implants, with low scores of plaque and bleeding indices. At the last follow-up evaluation, the mean MBL was 1.7 ± 1.1 mm (0.4-2.6 mm). Regression model analysis indicated that MBL for implants in the posterior maxilla was significantly higher than that for implants in the anterior maxilla (p = .0487). Overall, 26 technical and prosthetic complications were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the limitations of this study, maxillary four implant-retained overdentures via Locator attachment seem to be a predictable alternative for oral rehabilitation.
authors: Department of Oral Implantology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Monje
authors: Department of Oral Implantology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Oral Implantology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Zhiyong
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: Center for Cleft Lip and Palate, Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Guomin
authors: G
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Oral Implantology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Yiqun
authors: Y
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003781:Denture Retention; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: dental implants; edentulous maxilla; overdenture; survival rate