Complications, supplementary treatment, and maintenance in edentulous arches with implant-supported fixed prostheses

The first 50 edentulous arches treated with osseointegrated fixed partial dentures at the Postgraduate Dental Education Center, Orebro, Sweden, were studied retrospectively with concern for complications and time used for supplementary treatment and maintenance. The longest observation period was 9 years, the shortest 3 years, and the mean 5.2 years. Twenty-two percent of the patients experienced fractures of artificial teeth and/or the acrylic resin superstructure. The most severe technical complications were fractured or bent abutment screws (three) and fracture of the framework (one). The average time for supplementary treatment and maintenance was as follows: for surgery, 0.16 hours per prosthesis and year; for prosthodontics, 0.64 hours per prosthesis and year; and for dental laboratory procedures, 1.0 hour per prosthesis and year.