COMPLICATIONS AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS OF IMPLANT-SUPPORTED PROSTHESES PROVIDED IN A UK DENTAL HOSPITAL

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.