Bone changes associated with rehabilitation of mandibular defects with polyetheretherketone removable partial implant-assisted overdentures

Abstract

Background/aim Rehabilitation of the reconstructed mandibular defect is a challenge. Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing have opened a new successful approach to the fabrication of maxillofacial prostheses. This study aimed to evaluate marginal bone changes of abutments, implant, and bone graft height changes for patients treated with polyetheretherketone removable partial implant-assisted overdenture (RPIAO) in mandibular defect rehabilitation. Patients and methods Ten patients of both sexes (ages ranging from 55 to 65 years with mean age 60 years) having reconstructed mandibular defects and unsatisfied with their conventional partial dentures participated in the study. Each patient was rehabilitated using telescopic RPIAO. The telescopic RPIAO was fabricated digitally from milled polyetheretherketone, and the implant was inserted using a fully guided surgical guide. Marginal bone changes of abutments, implant and bone graft height changes measurements were performed using cone-beam computed tomography during the 9-month follow-up period. Results Range repeated measure analysis of variance was used to comparing bone parameters throwing the durations. After the 9-month follow-up period, the mean and SD of marginal bone level of implants were 7.53 ± 1.25 mm. There was a statistically significant difference between the durations where P value of 0.029. The higher bone loss around the implants occurred in the first 6 months from loading. At the end of the 9-month follow-up period, the mean and SD of marginal bone level of abutments were 10.69 ± 1.53 mm. Between the durations where P value of 0.053, there was no statistically significant difference. At the end of the 9-month follow-up period, the mean and SD of graft height was 16.43 ± 3.04. Between the durations where (P = 0.064), there was no statistically significant difference. Conclusion Within the limitations of this study, regarding marginal bone height around implants, there was a significant decrease in height during 6 months and decreased amount of marginal bone resorption from 6 to 9 months. While for marginal bone height around abutments and bone graft height, there was an insignificant decrease in height during the overall 9 months.