Pf. Allen et al., COMPLICATIONS AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS OF IMPLANT-SUPPORTED PROSTHESES PROVIDED IN A UK DENTAL HOSPITAL, British Dental Journal, 182(8), 1997, pp. 298-302
Aim To assess the nature, timing and frequency of complications associ
ated with implant therapy and to assess maintenance requirements of im
plant-supported prostheses. Design Retrospective analysis. Setting The
Dental Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne. Method Dental records of 60 p
atients provided with implant-supported prostheses were examined. Data
were compiled on the number of fixtures placed per patient, the type
of prosthesis provided, complications during the surgical and prosthod
ontic phases, and peri-implant soft tissue complications. Results 66 p
rostheses were placed on 236 fixtures over a 6-year period. Surgical c
omplications included fixture loss (n = 6), dysaesthesia (n = 12), and
the need for a guided tissue regeneration procedure (n = 10). Common
maintenance requirements were tightening of components (n = 11), clip
replacement (n = 7) and repair of conventional prostheses opposing imp
lant supported prostheses (n = 7). Plaque control was unsatisfactory w
ith almost half of the subjects requiring intensive oral hygiene instr
uction and scaling at the first post placement review Conclusions Pros
thodontic maintenance requirements were high, particularly during the
first year. Surgical complications were relatively infrequent, A case
was made for a rigorous Oral hygiene programme to reduce the potential
for fixture loss through neglect. The financial cost associated with
the maintenance of implant-supported prostheses should be incorporated
in their overall funding.