T. Jemt et al., Laser-welded titanium frameworks supported by implants in the edentulous maxilla: A 2-year prospective multicenter study, INT J PROST, 11(6), 1998, pp. 551-557
Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographi
c performance of patients who received implants and fixed prostheses with l
aser-welded titanium frameworks. Materials and Methods: Fifty-eight consecu
tive patients were treated with 349 osseointegrated implants ad modum Brane
mark in the edentulous maxilla at 6 implant centers. The patients were rand
omly arranged into 2 groups at the time of final impression. Twenty-eight p
atients received laser-welded titanium frameworks and 30 patients received
conventional cast frameworks. Clinical and radiographic data were collected
for 2 years in function. Results: The 2 groups of patients showed similar
results. The 2-year overall cumulative implant survival rate from the time
of implant placement and prosthesis insertion was 93.7% and 96.2%, respecti
vely. The corresponding cumulative survival rate for prostheses was 96.6%.
Two patients, 1 from each group, failed completely and resumed using conven
tional complete dentures. The only obvious factor that could possibly be re
lated to the 2 complete failures was a smoking habit. However, it was not p
ossible to significantly correlate implant failures to smoking habits in th
is study. No fractures were observed in the frameworks or implant component
s, and both groups experienced the same frequency of resin veneering materi
al fractures. The overall average marginal bone loss was 0.4 mm (SD 0.8 mm)
. Conclusion: Patients treated with implant-supported prostheses fabricated
with laser-welded titanium frameworks in the edentulous maxilla presented
comparable results to patients with conventional cast frameworks after 2 ye
ars in function.