Clinical Performance and Longevity of Implant-Assisted Removable Partial Dentures Compared to Other Removable...

Area of Science:

• Dental Prosthodontics
• Implant Dentistry
• Removable Prosthodontics

Background:

• Partial edentulism poses significant clinical challenges.
• The optimal prosthetic rehabilitation strategy is debated.
• Evaluating abutment configurations is crucial for treatment success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare natural teeth, implants, and mixed support for removable denture abutments.
• To assess longevity, complication rates, and survival of different abutment configurations.
• To identify the most effective treatment for partial edentulism.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
• PICO framework applied to studies from PubMed and Scopus (2022-2024).
• Inclusion of clinical studies on implant-assisted removable partial dentures (IARPDs).

Main Results:

• Nineteen studies analyzed, including IARPDs, conventional RPDs, and implant-only dentures (IODs).
• IARPDs demonstrated favorable implant survival and reduced abutment tooth loss compared to conventional RPDs.
• IODs exhibited the highest mid-term survival rates.

Conclusions:

• IARPDs are clinically viable, particularly for preserving natural dentition.
• Existing evidence supports IARPDs as a reliable option for partial edentulism.
• Long-term studies are necessary to validate the benefits of IARPDs.