TITANIUM IMPLANTS AND ONLAY BONE-GRAFT TO THE ATROPHIC EDENTULOUS MAXILLA - A 3-YEAR LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

Treatment of the atrophic maxilla using an onlay bone-grafting techniq ue in combination with simultaneous insertion of endosteal implants (B ranemark System) was performed in 17 patients. They were followed duri ng a 3-year period. At the end of this period, 14 patients had stable bridges in use and one patient had an overdenture. Two patients had ha d to return to conventional dentures due to implant losses. The surviv al rate of the implants after 3 years' use was 75%. It is concluded th at, in spite of the implant losses, onlay bent grafting to the maxilla is a valuable method in cases of severe maxillary atrophy.