Background: The effect of the type of implant superstructure on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among edentulous patients remains controversial. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between the type of implant superstructure and OHRQoL. Materials and Methods: Seventy-two completely edentulous patients who received implant fixed complete dentures (IFCDs) or implant overdentures (IODs) were administered the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) questionnaire during the post-treatment maintenance period. The OHIP summary score, as well as the four dimension scores, were calculated to evaluate OHRQoL. Results: The mean OHIP summary score for the IFCD group tended to be lower than that for the IOD group, but this difference was not statistically significant (19.9 ± 21.9, 22.8 ± 18.2, respectively; P = .57). However, a significant group difference was found in the four dimension scores (P < .01), with the OHIP item scores representing masticatory function being significantly lower in the IFCD group than in the IOD group (P < .05). Conclusions: Our results suggested that patients with an IOD exhibited comparable OHRQoL to those with an IFCD, with the exception of perceived masticatory function.

No abstract

Purpose This study aims to examine the effect of the size of the intraoral scanning area on implant position reproducibility and compare the implant position reproducibility of plaster models fabricated using the silicone impression technique, the digital model of an intraoral scanner, and three-dimensional (3D)-printed models fabricated using an intraoral scanner. Methods Scanbodies were attached to an edentulous model with six implants (master model) and were scanned using a dental laboratory scanner to obtain basic data. The plaster model was fabricated using the open-tray method (IMPM; n = 5). The master model was then scanned in various implant areas using an intraoral scanner to obtain data (IOSM; n = 5); the scanning data of six scanbodies were used to fabricate the 3D-printed models (3DPM; n = 5) using a 3D printer. Scanbodies were attached to the implant analogs of the IMPM and 3DPM models and data were obtained using a dental laboratory scanner. The basic data and IMPM, IOSM, and 3DPM data were superimposed to calculate the concordance rate of the scanbodies. Results The concordance rate of intraoral scanning decreased as the number of scanbodies increased. Significant differences were observed between the IMPM and IOSM data, and between the IOSM and 3DPM data; however, the IMPM and 3DPM data did not differ significantly. Conclusions The implant position reproducibility of the intraoral scanner decreased with an increase in the scanning area. However, ISOM and 3DPM may provide higher implant position reproducibility than plaster models fabricated using IMPM.

No abstract

The implant approach to the maxillary edentulous jaw comprises fixed prosthesis and removable prosthesis [removable implant overdenture (IOD)]. We held a debate on the choice of the prosthesis in clinical practice on the side of IOD. In the debate, it was important to preliminarily decide on the design that should be used, and therefore rigid and flexible IODs were discussed separately. Since various factors should be taken into account, the study was conducted in groups of items, i.e., anatomical aspects and preoperative conditions such as denture use before surgery, treatment costs, and life stage, especially in view of the necessity of nursing care. IOD was considered to be more appropriate than fixed prosthesis when taking the following conditions into account: if the horizontal ridge absorption in patients had progressed, when dentures familiar to patients had been used before implantation, when treatment costs would be reduced, or when patients' nursing care needs would be expected. IODs seemed to fulfill implant prostheses' requirements for patients with maxillary edentulous jaw in the aged society.