More dental providers are using implant-supported fixed complete dental prostheses (IFCDPs) to treat edentulism. But patient satisfaction with these devices often depends on the types of materials used in their construction, according to a study of 37 patients with 49 prostheses who completed a written questionnaire, attended an in-person interview, and had an oral exam at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
The IFCDPs included 22 metal-acrylic (MA), 14 retrievable crown (RC), seven monolithic zirconia (MZ), and six porcelain-veneered zirconia (PVZ) devices. The most common complications for each compound were: posterior tooth wear in MA, fractures and chipping in RC, opposing restoration wear (on natural teeth) in MZ, and opposing restoration chipping in PVZ. Six prostheses—two MA, two PVZ, and two RC—failed mainly due to fracturing and chipping.
Overall, the subjects were satisfied with their prostheses, with 87% reporting they were extremely satisfied, and 89% saying their IFCDPs “looked great.” The PVZ models had the most negative effect on patients, while the MZ had the least. The chief complaint was functional limitation with regard to chewing, differences in speech patterns, and hygiene.
The researchers note that these results should help providers recognize common problems with full-arch dental implant supported prostheses and provide predictable results. Also, patient satisfaction is closely related to patient expectations and education. When the prostheses that best suits each patient is selected and providers share the types of potential problems that may occur, few complications and greater patient satisfaction with care is possible, the researchers said.
However, the researchers note that their work was limited in its scope of observed complications and the size of its study group. They are viewing it as a preliminary study, and verification of outcomes needs to be conducted with a larger sample size and more real-time data versus a retrospective analysis, they said.
The study, “Patient-Reported and Clinical Outcomes of Implant-Supported Fixed Complete Dental Prostheses: A Comparison of Metal-Acrylic, Milled Zirconia, and Retrievable Crown Prostheses,” was published by the Journal of Oral Implantology.
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