A new coping for overdentures. Part 2: Preliminary results of a clinical study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate a new type of coping used for overdentures. Twenty-nine patients received 60 new chairside copings prepared by 3 operators. The copings, used to anchor removable prostheses, were followed up for between 6 months and 4 years with inspection, probing, and radiographic evaluation. Five teeth (8.3%) were extracted. A few clinical problems occurred, including decementation, periodontal pathology (loss of support and bleeding on probing), subgingival decay, and root fracture. No differences were noted in the incidence of complications among the 3 operators. The study demonstrated the clinical predictability of the new copings.