engleski

A three years follow-up clinical study of fixed partial dentures supported by mini dental implants: assessment of oral health-related quality of life, chewing function and orofacial aesthetics

Purpose: Mini dental implants (MDIs) have opened new options in oral-implant rehabilitation for patients with narrow alveolar ridges. However, studies with fixed partial dentures (FPDs) supported by MDIs are rare. We aimed to evaluate patients treated with FPDs supported only by MDIs and/or by MDIs splinted with natural teeth (NT), regarding their oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL), oral aesthetics and chewing function (CF) over a 3-year period. Methods & Materials: A total of 28 patients were included and 73 MDIs were inserted, 49 in the anterior or/and premolar region of the mandible and 24 in the maxilla. In 12 patients FPDs were constructed on MDIs and in 16 patients on both, MDIs and prepared NT. The three questionnaires: the OHIP14, the orofacial esthetic scale (OES) and the Chewing function questionnaire (CFQ) have been administrated three times: prior the MDIs insertion, three months and three years after the treatment. Marginal bone loss was measured on digital images. Each implant site was also clinically evaluated at the three month and at the three year follow-up control appointment using the peri-implant plaque index (PI) and the gingival index (GI. Results: A statistically significant increase of the OES, the CFQ and the OHIP14 summary scores were obtained after the FPD treatment for all questionnaires (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant differences for the OHIP14 summary scores between the three month and the three year follow-up (p>0.05). The OES summary scores slightly, but significantly decreased, while the CFQ summary scores slightly, but significantly increased at the three year follow-up appointment (p<0.05) revealing only slightly decreased aesthetics, but increased chewing ability compared to the 3-month appointment. There was no significant difference between patients with FPDs on MDIs and patients with FPDs on both, MDIs and NT (P>0.05). The PI and GI showed relatively satisfactory oral hygiene, although significantly higher values considering mucosa inflammation and placque accumulation after a period of three years compared to a 3-month period (p<0.005). Conclusion: The FPDs supported by MDIs showed satisfactory results considering marginal bone loss, increased OHRQoL, chewing function and oral aesthetics over a period of three years.

Mini dental implants; fixed partial denture; quality of life; chewing function; aesthetics

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