Outcome of treatment with implant-retained dental prostheses in patients with Sjogren syndrome

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the outcome of treatment with implant-retained prostheses in patients suffering from Sjogren syndrom e. Eight women were included in the study; all had suffered oral symptoms o f Sjogren syndrome for many years. Seven patients were edentulous in both a rches, and 1 patient was edentulous in the maxilla only. All patients repor ted poor or very poor comfort levels with their conventional dentures. It w as the intention to treat each arch that showed subjective and objective de nture problems with a complete fixed prosthesis after placement of 6 implan ts. In all, 54 Branemark dental implants were placed in these patients. No implants were lost, but 7 implants in 4 patients were clinically not osseoi ntegrated at the time of the abutment connection procedure. Because of nono sseointegrated implants and lack of jawbone, 3 arches were treated with an implant-retained overdenture, Fixed prostheses were made with a titanium fr amework of premachined components welded together (Procera) and acrylic res in teeth and flanges. Patients answered a questionnaire regarding their ora l function before the onset of treatment and 1 month and 2 years after trea tment. An average radiographic bone loss of 0.7 mm from the time of implant placement to 1 year after treatment was observed; additional bone loss of less than 0.6 mm was recorded 4 years after treatment. During the first yea r of function 2 implants lost osseointegration. No prostheses were lost or remade. Treatment with implant-retained prostheses considerably increased t he prosthetic comfort and function of the patients. Two years after prosthe tic treatment, only 1 patient indicated poor comfort of the prostheses, whi le the remaining patients reported good or very good comfort levels.