Comparison of four-implant-retained overdentures and implant-supported fixed prostheses using the All-on-4 concept in the maxilla in terms of patient satisfaction, quality of life, and marginal bone loss: a 2-year retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to compare and assess maxillary edentulous patients treated with four-implant-retained overdentures and with implant-supported fixed prostheses using the All-on-4 concept in terms of patient satisfaction, oral health-related quality of life, and marginal bone loss. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Thirty-three patients treated with either maxillary four-implant-retained overdentures (n = 15) or with maxillary implant-supported fixed prosthesis using the All-on-4 concept (n = 18) were compared in terms of patient satisfaction, quality of life, and marginal bone loss. Independent sample t test was used to compare the two groups in terms of satisfaction, OHIP-14 scores, and marginal bone loss. The paired sample t test was used to compare bone loss at different time intervals. The comparison of marginal bone loss with regard to implant location was accomplished with the one-way ANOVA test. P values of < .05 were considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups' OHIP-14 scores (P > .05). When patient satisfaction scores were evaluated, hygiene maintenance (P = .001) and pain scores (P = .001) were significantly higher in the implant-retained overdenture group than in the implant-supported fixed prosthesis group (P < .05). No statistically significant difference was observed between axial and tilted implants at both the 12-month (P = .59) and 24-month (P = .77) follow-up periods in the implant-supported fixed prosthesis group. CONCLUSION: Four-implant-supported fixed prostheses with the All-on-4 concept and four-implant-retained overdentures present similar marginal bone loss and quality of life scores after 2 years of function. However, patients found overdentures easier to clean but more painful in comparison with the fixed prosthesis.

Clinical evaluation of free gingival graft shrinkage in horizontal and vertical dimensions.

PURPOSE: To assess the shrinkage of Free Gingival Graft (FGG) in horizontal and vertical dimensions and calculate the changes in the surface area of the transplanted tissue in a 3 months period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: total of 30 FGG were placed aiming to increase attached gingiva around recession sites. Vertical recessions, horizontal recessions, surface area, plaque index, gingival index, periodontal probing depth and clinical attachment level were assesed at baseline, 1 and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Graft shrinkage between baseline and 1 month was more evident than 1 to 3 months in either dimensions. Both horizontal and vertical dimensions were significantly decreased (p<0.001) at 1 and 3 months post operatively. There was no significant change in PI and GI scores postoperatively compared to baseline (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The shrinkage of vertical and horizontal dimensions of the grafts were almost equal unlike the literature. In addition, the different dimensional changes observed in individual level deserve further research.