Long-term implant performance and patients' satisfaction in oligodontia.

Objectives: To assess long-term (≥10 years) implant survival, peri-implant health, patients' satisfaction and oral health related quality of life (OHQoL) in oligodontia patients rehabilitated with implant-based fixed prosthodontics.

Methods: All oligodontia patients treated ≥10 years previously with implant-based fixed prosthodontics at the University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands, were approached to participate. Clinical (plaque index, bleeding index, pocket probing depth) and radiographic (marginal bone level) data were collected between February and May 2016. Surgical implant details (e.g., bone augmentation) and implant loss were recalled from the medical records. Patients completed a satisfaction questionnaire (maximum score 10, high score favourable satisfaction) and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-NL49, maximum score 196, low score favourable satisfaction) to rate OHQoL. Implant survival was expressed according to Kaplan Meier. The Mann-Whitney U Test was used for the other analyses.

Results: Forty-one patients had been treated with implant-based fixed prosthodontics (n = 258) ≥10 years previously. Cumulative 10-year implant survival of these 41 patients was 89.1% (95%CI 85.2-93.0%). Twenty-eight of them (n = 163 implants) were willing to visit us for additional clinical and radiographic assessments. In these 28 patients, highest peri-implant bone loss was observed for implants placed in augmented bone (p < 0.001). Peri-implant mucositis (65.4%) and peri-implantitis (16.1%) were rather common. Patients' satisfaction (8.3 ± 1.5) and OHIP-NL49 scores (32.6 ± 30.1) were favourable and not associated with number of agenetic teeth (≤10 versus >10).

Conclusions: Long-term survival, satisfaction and OHQoL results reveal that implant treatment is a predictable and satisfactory treatment modality for oligodontia, although peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis are common.

Clinical Significance: This study showed unique long-term (≥10 years) results about implant survival, peri-implant health, patients' satisfaction and OHQoL in oligodontia patients rehabilitated with implant-based fixed prosthodontics.