title: Influence of the prosthetic arm length (palatal position) of zygomatic implants upon patient satisfaction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the influence of the prosthetic arm length (palatal position) of zygomatic implants upon patient comfort and stability, speech, functionality and overall satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective clinical study was made of patients subjected to rehabilitation of atrophic maxilla with complete maxillary implant-supported fixed prostheses involving a minimum of two zygomatic implants (one on each side) in conjunction with premaxillary implants, and with 12 months of follow-up after implant loading. Subjects used a VAS to score general satisfaction, comfort and stability, speech and functionality, and the results were analyzed in relation to the prosthetic arm length of the zygomatic implants 12 months after prosthetic delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two patients participated in the study, receiving 22 prostheses anchored on 148 implants (44 were zygomatic and 94 were conventional implants). The mean right and left prosthetic arm length was 5.9±2.4 mm and 6.1±2.7 mm, respectively, with no statistically significant differences between them (p=0.576). The mean scores referred to comfort/retention, speech, functionality and overall satisfaction were high - no correlation being found between prosthetic arm length and patient satisfaction (p=0.815).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No relationship could be identified between prosthetic arm length (palatal position) and patient satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Valencia, Clínica Odontológica, Unidad de Cirugía Bucal, Calle Gascó Oliag, 1, 46021 - Valencia, Spain, miguel.penarrocha@uv.es.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pellicer-Chover
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cervera-Ballester
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peñarrocha-Oltra
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bagán
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Peñarrocha-Diago
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peñarrocha-Diago
mesh_terms: D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous; D008437:Maxilla; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015050:Zygoma
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants