A 5-YEAR PROSPECTIVE CLINICAL-STUDY OF ASTRA TECH DENTAL IMPLANTS SUPPORTING FIXED BRIDGES OR OVERDENTURES IN THE EDENTULOUS MANDIBLE

In a 5-year prospective clinical study, 155 endosseous implants were i nstalled in the mandible anterior to the mental foramina in 33 edentul ous patients (13 males and 20 females). Usually 6 implants were instal led for fixed prostheses (FP), 13 patients with 77 implants, and 4 imp lants for overdentures (OD) with a Dolder bar, 20 patients with 78 imp lants. At the time of abutment connection 1 implant in 2 patients was found to be loose and removed, However, in both these patients overden tures were successfully placed on the remaining 3 implants. Narrow-bea m radiography was used for radiological evaluation. The mean (SD) tota l marginal bone loss in 5 years was 0.48 (0.38) mm (0.36 (0.22) mm in the FP group and 0.56 (0.45) mm in the OD group). Very few complicatio ns were reported during the 5 years, most of them being related to the superstructures. The overall cumulative implant survival rate was 98. 7% (100% in the FP group and 97.4% in the OD group). The survival rate of the superstructures was 100%. The present study has demonstrated t hat Astra Tech implants offer reliable and predictable medium-term sup port for fixed prostheses and overdentures in the edentulous mandible.