A new design for a hybrid prosthesis supported by osseointegrated implants: 2. Preliminary clinical aspects

A fixed partial denture is preferred as a prosthetic restoration supported by tissue-integrated oral implants. However, there are occasions, especially in restoring an edentulous maxilla, when a fixed partial denture does not satisfy a patient's requirements for esthetics, good phonetics, proper oral hygiene, and oral comfort. A removable hybrid prosthesis attached to a bar that is conventionally fixed to tissue-integrated implants ad modum Brånemark was therefore designed to satisfy such needs and to meet requirements for splinting of the implants. Following the placement of prostheses, patients were asked to give their opinion on the comfort, phonetics, and esthetics of the prosthesis by marking a visual analog scale. The results indicate a successful initial outcome of the treatment.