engleski

Mini dental implants as additional support of removable partal dentures

Purpose: The proportion of patients dissatisfied with their chewing function and esthetics due to ill-fitting removable partial dentures (RPDs) retained by clasps, attachments or double crowns can reach up to 40%. Placement of standard size implants for retention and better stability of RPDs has already shown benefits. However, placement of slim implants (Mini dental implants, MDIs) in strategic positions to change linear into a more favorable polygonal denture support has not been reported yet, or longitudinally followed-up. Materials and Methods: Fifty eight patients, previous RPD wearers with linear denture support and slim alveolar ridges denture participated. Each patient received 2 MDIs (2.0 to 2.5 mm wide and 10 to 14 mm long) posteriorly from the last tooth in the dental arch, adjacent to it or at a distance of approx. one tooth width posteriorly. When the insertion torque was 30 N/cm2 the implants were immediately or early loaded. Forty patients received MDIs in the mandible and 18 in the maxilla. Patients filled in 3 questionnaires: Oral health impact profile (OHIP14), chewing function questionnaire (CFQ) and orofacial esthetic scale (OES) at baseline, at the one-year control exam, and in 38 patients at the 3-year appointment. Results: Two implants were lost prior loading, but were substituted with another MDIs, so 118 implants were placed. Patients improved significantly esthetics, chewing function and OHRQoL (p< 0.05) with consistent results through the first year, as well as through the 3-year observation period. There was almost no bone loss or periimplantitis and none of the remaining patients´ teeth was lost. No denture fractures or matrices loosening was reported. Three O-rings were changed. Conclusion: Insertion of MDIs to provide RPDs with more favorable support and retention seem to be a viable and reliable clinical procedure.

mini dental implants ; removable partial dentures ; patients outcomes

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