Double crown-retained maxillary overdentures: 5-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of data concerning implant-supported overdentures (IODs) retained by double crowns in the edentulous maxilla. PURPOSE: To perform a retrospective evaluation of clinical outcomes (survival/success rates) of maxillary overdentures retained on four implants via double crowns. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1993 and 2011, 28 patients with edentulous maxillae were restored with overdentures supported by four implants with a Morse taper connection (Ankylos, Dentsply Friadent, Mannheim, Germany) and double crowns according to the Marburg Double Crown (MDC) technique in a private practice. For retrospective evaluation of implant and prosthetic survival (in situ criterion) and success (event-free observational period), only patients attending a professional maintenance program were included (n = 20). RESULTS: Twenty patients (13 female/ seven male, mean age: 63.45 +/- 7.18 years) with 80 implants met the inclusion criteria. The mean follow-up period was 5.64 +/- 3.50 years. One implant was lost (cumulative survival rate: 98.75%). Eight implants (10.1%) in two patients (10%) showed peri-implantitis; both patients were active smokers (cumulative success rate: 88.75%). All dentures were still functional (prosthetic survival rate 100%) at the time of investigation. Technical maintenance procedures (e.g., abutment loosening, screw loosening, acrylic fracture or relining) were required at a rate of 0.222/patient-year. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, we conclude that MDC-IODs are a promising treatment alternative for edentulous maxillae offering high implant and prosthesis survival rates > 98% and a limited incidence of biological and technical complications after a mean observational period of >5 years.