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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
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Measuring Maxillary Posterior Tooth Movement: A Model Assessment using Palatal and Dental Superimposition
Published on: February 23, 2024
Maxillary removable prostheses retained by telescopic crowns on two implants or two canines
Dietmar Weng1, Ernst-Jürgen Richter
1Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Bavarian Julius-Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany.
Summary
Telescopic crowns on maxillary implants for removable dentures showed a 48.9% survival rate, significantly lower than natural teeth. This suggests the rigid telescopic connection may overload implants.
Area of Science:
- Dental prosthetics
- Implant dentistry
- Biomaterials science
Background:
- Telescopic attachments offer rigid connections for removable prostheses.
- The long-term load-bearing capacity of implants versus teeth using telescopic crowns is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the survival rates and clinical performance of maxillary removable partial dentures retained by telescopic crowns on endosseous implants compared to natural teeth.
Main Methods:
- A prospective clinical study comparing an implant group (14 patients) with a control group (8 patients).
- Both groups used telescopic crowns for retention; the implant group used two endosseous implants in the canine regions, while the control group used maxillary canines.
- Mean observation period was 25.6 months, assessing radiographic bone levels and periodontal parameters.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in radiographic bone levels or periodontal parameters were observed between the groups.
- Five implants failed in the implant group, while no failures occurred in the control group.
- Implant group survival rate was 48.9% versus 100% for the control group, a statistically significant difference.
Conclusions:
- The rigid telescopic connection may lead to overloading of single implants in the maxillary canine region when supporting a removable denture.
- Implants may not withstand similar long-term loading forces as natural teeth when utilizing rigid telescopic retention systems.
