PROSTHETIC REHABILITATION OF THE ATROPHIC MAXILLA USING PRE-IMPLANT SURGERY AND ENDOSSEOUS IMPLANTS

Pre-implant surgery was carried out in 20 patients with advanced atrop hy of the edentulous maxilla, using autogenous bone grafts. Endosseous implants were placed after the initial healing period and these were used to retain removable overdentures. Patients were observed for up t o 5 years with 15 of the 105 implants placed being lost and two remain ing as sleepers. The resulting implant success rate was 84%. Three pat ients had to return to conventional dentures while the remaining 17 ex pressed a high degree of satisfaction with their implant retained pros theses. Pre-implant surgery successfully extends the scope for implant therapy by providing sufficient bone for implant placement. The survi val rate of implants in these cases appears promising up to 3 years, a lthough further data is required to confirm the effectiveness of this treatment in the long term. Implant retained overdentures are able to successfully restore both oral function and facial form. The rehabilit ation of the atrophic, edentulous maxilla remains difficult and comple x, even when using pre-implant surgery and implant retained prostheses .