Fixed versus removable A retrospective clinical investigation of implant-supported restorations in edentulous arches after up to 10 years

Implant-supported dentures in edentulous arches can be treated by removable restorations (HZE) or fixed restorations (FZE). The type and severity of the complications expected in the long term have a decisive influence on the treatment option. To provide a review, 14 fixed prostheses were followed-up and compared with 50 removable prostheses over a period of up to ten years. Technical (implant and abutment), biological (soft tissue and bone), and prosthetic (superstructures) complications were documented and statistically evaluated using descriptive statistics and the Breslowtest (p<0.00). Of the 328 implants placed, two implants had to be removed after 3.9 and 5.8 years. All superstructures were in situ. The mean complication rate was 0.24 for fixed prostheses and 0.37 for removable prostheses per restoration per year. There were no significant differences in ldiologicat or prosthetic complications between fixed and removable prostheses over ten years. However, prosthetic complications occurred approximately four to five times more frequently than biological complications