Implant-Supported Immediately Loaded Complete Arch Rehabilitations with a Mean Follow-up of 10 Years : a Prospective Clinical Study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the complication-free and failure-free survival rates of porcelain fused to zirconia (PFZ) and all-resin complete arch fixed implant-supported prostheses over a mean follow-up of 10 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Subjects with either all-resin or PFZ complete arch fixed implant-supported prostheses on 4 or 6 implants were followed prospectively for 10 years. Cumulative survival rates of prostheses without any catastrophic mechanical complications (resolved without replacing the prosthesis) and free of prosthesis failure (requiring the replacement or removal of the prosthesis) were calculated using life table analysis for up to 10-year period. Additional descriptive variables for various prosthesis events were recorded, such as sex, smoking and drinking status of subjects. RESULTS: A total of 36 subjects with a total of 68 prostheses (53 all-resin and 15 PFZ) were available for evaluation with a mean follow-up of 10 years (SD 1.47; range: 8-13 years). The study registered an overall 90% prostheses survival rate-78% for males and 94% for females; 91% for PFZ and 87% for all-resin; and a 31% complication-free prosthesis survival rate-13% for males and 38% for females; 29% for PFZ and 31% for all-resin at 10 years. A slight decrease in survival rate was identified in the first 3 years since the initial treatment (from 100% to 93%). The number of complications increased with time, especially after the 6th year after the initial treatment. CONCLUSION: Despite the number of reparable mechanical complications, the results confirmed the long-lasting features of both PFZ and all-resin complete arch fixed implant-supported prostheses over a 10-year period. There was however an increased number of mechanical complications after 6 years which may entail additional treatment cost for patients.