Survival and Success Rate of Implants in Overdentures: Analyzing Patient and Implant Factors

Abstract

Purpose: Edentulism can be treated using removable prostheses, fixed prostheses, and implant overdentures. Implant overdentures are more cost-effective than fixed prostheses and offer advantages of retention, support, stability, masticatory power, psychological stability, maintenance of alveolar bone, and improvement of proprioception compared to removable dentures. This study aimed to investigate the survival and success rate of implants in overdentures according to patient and implant factors.Materials and Methods: This study investigated patients who underwent implant surgery for overdenture treatment by a single surgeon at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department at Seoul Asan Medical Center between 2005 and 2020. A total of 46 patients with 146 implants were included, and the survival and success rates of the implants were analyzed statistically. Additionally, the correlation between these rates and age, sex, implant placement location, and the number of implants was investigated.Results: A total of 146 implants were placed in 46 patients for implant overdentures. The average follow-up period for this study was 5.03 ± 3.89 years. The mean age of the patients was 68.5 ± 9.9 years, and there were 19 men and 27 women. The most commonly placed implants were in the mandibular anterior region, and the majority of dentures had two implants. The overall survival and success rates of implants in overdentures were 98.6% and 95.9%, respectively. Age, sex, implant placement location, and the number of implants showed no significant correlation with implant survival and success rates.Conclusion: The survival and success rates of implants for overdentures are extremely high, with no significant difference from those for fixed prosthetics.