ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this report is to compare satisfaction of patients rehabilitated with full-mouth fixed prostheses using computer-aided flapless implant placement and immediate loading with patients rehabilitated with conventional removable prostheses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 30 consecutive fully edentulous patients who received 312 implants and 30 matched controls treated with conventional removable prostheses. Mandible and maxilla were treated in the same surgical session with computer-guided flapless approach using NobelGuide protocol. Prefabricated screw-retained fixed prostheses were inserted at the end of surgery. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were assessed at 6, 12, and 36 months. At baseline and 5 years after prostheses delivery, patients answered OHIP-EDENT questionnaire (Oral Health Impact Profile for Edentulous subjects) to assess satisfaction. RESULTS: The implant survival rate was 97.9%, whereas the average marginal bone loss was 1.9 ± 1.3 mm after 3 years. At 6 months, patients showed significantly greater satisfaction with their fixed rehabilitation as compared to conventional dentures. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm that rehabilitation with a prefabricated fixed prosthesis supported by implants placed with NobelGuide protocol significantly increases the quality of life in fully edentulous patients when compared with complete dentures.
