The clinical yield from implant prosthodontics

Abstract

A qualitative spectrum of clinical research endorses the therapeutic benefits of implant prosthodontics, which include: (i) provision of prosthesis retention and stability; (ii) retardation in bone resorption; (iii) minimal treatment outcome morbidity; (iv) economic benefits for specific treatment protocols; (v) and enrichment of patients’ quality of life. This favourable clinical yield is well confirmed by over 20 years of clinical reports and ‘ research studies with ~ Branemark implants. | Furthermore, a small number of other implant systems have also shown comparably impressive results, albeit in shorter term studies. It should be emphasized that only a few clinical implant studies fall in the upper tier of evidence-based dentistry, since randomized control trials are particularly difficult to conduct because of the required heterogeneity of the starting point, the frequent complexity of the outcome, and most particularly, because of the long time scale required'. Hence the importance of using scrupulously documented longterm prospective studies with clearly articulated patient inclusion and exclusion criteria and a standardized, rigorously applied application of outcome measures as basis for making informed clinical decisions?