Clinical and radiographic evaluations of implants as surveyed crowns for Class I removable partial dentures: A retrospective study

Soo-Yeon Yoo; Seong-Kyun Kim; Seong-Joo Heo; Jai-Young Koak

doi:10.4047/jap.2022.14.2.108

Clinical and radiographic evaluations of implants as surveyed crowns for Class I removable partial dentures: A retrospective study

J Adv Prosthodont. 2022 Apr;14(2):108-121. doi: 10.4047/jap.2022.14.2.108. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Authors

Soo-Yeon Yoo¹, Seong-Kyun Kim¹, Seong-Joo Heo¹, Jai-Young Koak¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Prosthodontics & Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University Dental Hospital, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate survival rates and marginal bone loss (MBL) of implants in IC-RPDs.

Materials and methods: Seventy implants were placed and used as surveyed crowns in 30 RPDs. The survival rates and MBL around implants based on multiple variables, e.g., position, sex, age, opposing dentitions, splinting, type of used retainer, and first year bone loss, were analyzed. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) regarding functional/esthetic improvement after IC-RPD treatment, and complications were also inspected.

Results: The 100% implant survival rates were observed, and 60 of those implants showed MBL levels less than 1.5 mm. No significant differences in MBL of implants were observed between implant positions (maxilla vs. mandible; P = .341) and type of used retainers (P = .630). The implant MBL of greater than 0.5 mm at 1 year showed significantly higher MBL after that (P < .001). Splinted implant surveyed crowns showed lower MBL in the maxilla (splinted vs. non-splinted; P = .037). There were significant esthetic/functional improvements observed after treatment, but there were no significant differences in esthetic results based on implant position (maxilla vs. mandible). Implants in mandible showed significantly greater improvement in function than implants in the maxilla (P = .002). Prosthetic complication of IC-RPD was not observed frequently. However, 2 abutment teeth among 60 were failed. The bone loss of abutment teeth was lower than MBL of implants in IC-RPDs (P = .001).

Conclusion: Class I RPD connected to residual teeth and strategically positioned implants as surveyed crowns can be a viable treatment modality.

Keywords: Abutment teeth; Implant surveyed crowns; Marginal bone loss (MBL); Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs); Removable partial dentures with implants used as surveyed crowns (IC-RPDs); Survival rates.