General dentists can provide successful implant overdentures with minimal training

Abstract

Can inexperienced dentists provide two-implant overdentures that are as satisfactory, and at the same cost, as those provided by experienced prosthodontists? Design This randomised controlled trial (RCT) used a 2×2 factorial design. Intervention Edentulous people of age >65 years were enrolled in the RCT, which was designed to compare the effects on nutrition of conventional and two-implant mandibular overdentures . They were randomly assigned to groups treated either by an experienced prosthodontist or by a newly-graduated dentist who had undergone minimal training in implant treatment. Outcome measure The change in patient ratings of satisfaction after treatment, laboratory costs, and the number of unscheduled visits up to 6 months following delivery of the prosthesis were compared. To determine the clinicians' perception of difficulty in providing the two prosthetic treatments, a short questionnaire was administered using telephone interviews. Results Data were gathered from the first 140 patients who had been treated by either one of the three prosthodontists or by one of the eight newly graduated dentists. The prosthodontists provided a total of 28 implant overdentures and 46 conventional dentures, whereas the inexperienced dentists provided 33 prostheses for each kind. Satisfaction was significantly higher with implant overdentures than with conventional dentures, but there were no differences in scores for either prosthesis between the groups treated by experienced specialists or new dentists. The laboratory costs of fabricating implant overdentures were significantly higher than the cost of conventional dentures. There was no significant difference between the two groups of clinicians in mean laboratory costs, however, for either conventional dentures or implant overdentures. There was no significant between-group difference in the number of unscheduled visits for either prosthesis. Furthermore, six of the seven inexperienced dentists reported that they found the mandibular two-implant overdenture easier to provide than the conventional denture. Conclusions Inexperienced dental practitioners can provide successful mandibular two-implant overdentures for their patients with minimal training.