Retrospective preliminary clinical study on mandibular full-arch segmented implant-borne fixed dental prostheses developed via digital workflow: A 3-year follow-up of 14 patients.

OBJECTIVES: Multiple implants for facilitating the fabrication of shorter-span prostheses can reduce the complications associated with implant-borne fixed dental prostheses. This retrospective clinical study aimed to assess the short-term clinical and radiological outcomes of two- and three-piece mandibular full-arch implant-borne fixed dental prostheses.

METHODS: Immediate implant placement was performed in the lower jaw, and patients received an immediate temporary acrylic prosthesis on multiunit abutments. At least six implants supported the segmented full-arch prostheses. Final prostheses were manufactured using a fully digitized workflow. After intraoral scanning, bar mesostructures and monolithic zirconia suprastructures were milled and luted together. Screw-retained segmented prostheses were delivered to the implants. Outcome measures included implant survival, incidence of biological and biomechanical complications, marginal bone loss, and prosthetic success. Marginal bone loss was measured on control panoramic radiographs. Fourteen patients (males: 9, females: 5; age: 65.43 ± 15,34 years) were included in this study. Patients were followed up for 37.71 ± 22.11 months.

RESULTS: All 119 implants survived throughout the follow-ups. No biomechanical complications were observed, and all segmented fixed dental prostheses were successful. The prevalence of peri‑implantitis and peri‑implant mucositis was 0.84 % and 7.56 % at the implant level and 7.14 % and 28.57 % at the patient level, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Delivering a segmented, full-arch, implant-supported monolithic zirconia prosthesis using a fully digital workflow for the edentulous lower jaw is safe and reliable, with a low occurrence of biological and biomechanical complications.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Based on this retrospective clinical study, implant-borne segmented fixed dental prostheses may be considered an alternative to splinted full-arch mandibular prostheses.