Clinical evaluation of implants retaining edentulous maxillary obturator prostheses.

PURPOSE: Fabricating a maxillary obturator can be challenging. Placement of implants can have a dramatic effect on the stability and retention of the prosthesis in the edentulous maxillectomy patient. This article provides clinical retrospective analysis of osseointegrated implants used to retain maxillary obturators.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patient charts and radiographs were reviewed to determine implant status, bone loss patterns, and implant survival rates. Twenty-six patients were included with 102 implants placed, from which there were 19 intact withdrawals (implants lost because of recurrent disease or patient death), five implants with unknown status, 24 implant failures, and 54 functional implants.
RESULTS: The overall survival rate for implants in this patient population was 69.2%. The percent implant survival rate was 63.6% for the irradiated group (67.0% before radiation, 50.0% after radiation) and 82.6% for the nonirradiated group. Implants located in anterior sites demonstrated statistically significant differences in annual bone height changes compared with posterior sites.
CONCLUSIONS: The majority of implant failures (18 of 24) occurred either at stage II surgery or before loading. Implants placed during tumor resection, implants placed within the maxillectomy defects, and implants receiving postoperative radiation demonstrated low survival rates.