Implant placement in prosthodontics practice: a five-year retrospective study.
UNLABELLED: Dental implants have revolutionized dentistry in every aspect of treatment including surgery, restorative dentistry, and orthodontic treatment planning. PURPOSE: This retrospective study analyzes the treatment of completely and partially edentulous patients in a prosthodontics practice and the Edmonton Implant Seminar. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All implant surgery was performed by the prosthodontist. The majority of implants (336) were restored by the prosthodontist (71%). A total of 135 restorations were provided by 12 different general practitioners (29%) in a study group environment. RESULTS: Of 471 implants that were placed, 453 (96.2%) integrated successfully. Treatment groups were divided into single implant restoration (19.3%), fixed partial dentures (51%), overdentures (12.3%), and mandibular fixed partial denture cantilever (17.6%). Retention of final prosthesis was 99.4%. Of 18 failures, four occurred between Stage I and II surgeries, 11 occurred between Stage II surgery and final impressions, and three occurred after placement of final restorations. All three restorative failures were single implants. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that implant placement by a prosthodontist is comparable to the success of previous studies.