Implant complications and failures: the complete overdenture

The implant-retained overdenture has been advocated as an effective method of restoring the edentulous patient with an appliance that offers significant benefits over conventional prosthetics. However, the success and survival of such appliances have been shown to vary considerably, depending on which jaw is treated: implants supporting overdentures in the maxilla have a significantly higher failure rate. The restoration also requires considerable maintenance, which is both time consuming and costly. The purpose of this paper is to look at common restorative complications and maintenance problems following the placement of dental implants to support an overdenture. A number of implant systems have been reviewed and the results of the authors' clinical experiences with referred and their own cases are reported.