A long-term prognosis for the fixed saddle-bridge. A study of 100 constructions

This report constitutes a long-term study of 100 saddle-bridges applied by the author during the years 1958-1973. The aim of the investigation has been to assess the prognosis for this form of therapy. The probability that a saddle-bridge will still be functioning completely, without repair, after 5 years is 93%, and after 10 years (as also after 12 years) 83%. Only 12% of the appliances had been removed 12 years after the application. The risk of defects is about the same during the first 5-year period after the application as it is during the second and the third 5-year periods. A comparison between saddle-bridges applied before and after 1965 shows no demonstrable difference as regards the 5-year prognosis in spite of modifications with respect to range of indication and therapy. The causes of the defects have been divided into biological and technical. During the first 5-year period technical defects appear to be in the majority, whereas during the later stages, biological defects predominate. Background factors such as sex, the age of the patient, length of saddle, localization in the jaw do not prove to have any appreciable importance for the prognosis. There is, on the other hand, a significantly better prognosis when the opposing jaw is furnished with the patient's own teeth and/or fixed bridges than with a removable denture. The author points out that from the result of the study, the saddle-bridge has such a good long-term prognosis that its range of application for fixed constructions should be considerably extended.