THE ECONOMICS OF COMPLETE DENTURES AND IMPLANT-RELATED SERVICES - A FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSIS AND PRELIMINARY OUTCOMES

It is not always clear that the implant-prosthesis offers distinct adv antages over the conventional complete denture for managing the edentu lous jaw. This article discusses the measurement; distribution, impact , and management of the edentulous jaw, and describes a framework for analyzing the economic costs and benefits associated with the conventi onal denture and the implant prosthesis. There are physiologic and psy chosocial costs and benefits to both the conventional denture and the implant prosthesis, which indicates that neither method is distinctly superior. The physiologic costs are low and the psychosocial costs are similar for both treatments, whereas the direct financial costs assoc iated with the implant prosthesis are substantially higher.