Zirconia implants supporting overdentures: a pilot study with novel prosthodontic designs

Limited clinical research identifies prosthodontic perspectives of novel designs for zirconia implants supporting overdentures. Four pilot study participants were selected before a planned randomized clinical trial on zirconia implants supporting overdentures. Novel designs for maxillary four-implant overdentures (quadrilateral design) and mandibular three-implant overdentures (tripodal design) were used with 28 implants (maxilla, n = 16; mandible, n = 12). Four implants failed to achieve osseointegration prior to loading. At the 1-year follow-up appointment, all implants were surviving, the overdentures were in function, and there were no clinical signs of wear of the attachment system. A proof-of-principle for prosthodontic perspectives of a novel design using one-piece zirconia implants supporting maxillary and mandibular implant overdentures was achieved.