Implant Retained - RPD for Kennedy Class I Edentulism

Objectives:

The objective of this work is to present an original treatment option that is easy and effective in any professionals' hands and at the same time reasonably economic for it needs a limited numbers of implants and avoid additional treatment on residual teeth.

We call this option Implant Retained Removable Partial Denture (IR-RPD)

Methods:

IR-RPD is a standard RPD – with an even easier design – that is anchored to dental implants by mean of ball attachments that enhance the dento-mucosal model of masticatory force transmission of traditional RPDs.

For Kennedy Class I edentulism we propose to use two implants close to the distal teeth. On these implants is possible to use a ball attachment, which works as an aesthetic retention, giving support with an optimized rotation axis and distributing occlusal forces to implants, teeth and mucosa.

Results:

In our units between 1998 and 2000 20 patients has been treated with 50 implants.

At the end of a 7-year follow-up we can observe that:

We've lost 3 implants (cumulative success rate of 94%)

All prosthesis are still working

The satisfaction of the patient is high

The maintenance of the prosthesis is similar to traditional RPD

Conclusions:

IR-RPDs are designed to easily rehabilitate patients with a RPD anchored to one or two implants that enhance retention and stability without anaesthetic clasp assemblies on anterior teeth and avoid preparation of residual dentition in case of combined fixed- movable dentures or majors surgical procedures in case of implant treatment.

Preliminary results regarding function and aesthetic are favourable.