Within-subject comparison of maxillary long-bar implant-retained prostheses with and without palatal coverage: patient-based outcomes

Although maxillary implant overdentures are used in oral rehabilitation, di fferent designs have not been compared previously in clinical trials. This crossover trial was designed to measure differences in patient satisfaction with maxillary long-bar implant overdentures with and without palatal cove rage opposed by a fixed mandibular implant-supported prosthesis. Data were also gathered on new conventional dentures and on maxillary conventional de ntures opposed by mandibular fixed prostheses. Sixteen participants were se lected from a population wearing conventional dentures. Fifteen received ne w upper and lower dentures (1 dropout). Four implants were placed in the ma xilla and mandible (2 drop-outs). A mandibular fixed prosthesis was inserte d in 13 participants, who were then divided into 2 groups. One group (n=7) received long-bar overdentures with palate, then long-bar overdentures with out palate. The other group (n=6) received the same treatments in the rever se order. Mastication tests and psychometric evaluations using Visual Analo g Scales and Categorical Scales were performed throughout the study. Genera l satisfaction was very high with both maxillary implant-supported prosthes es, as were ratings of almost all psychosocial and functional variables. Th ere were no significant differences between treatments, suggesting that pat ients are equally satisfied with long-bar overdentures with and without pal ate when these are opposed by mandibular fixed prostheses. However, the rat ings given to the maxillary implant prostheses were not significantly highe r than for new conventional maxillary prostheses. This suggests that maxill ary implant prostheses should not be considered as a general treatment of c hoice in patients with good bony support for maxillary conventional prosthe ses.