Prosthetic complications with implant prostheses (2001-2017)

Aim: To present recent data regarding prosthetic complications with implant prostheses and crowns as well as compare this data with data presented in a 2003 publication. Material and methods: An electronic Medline (PubMed) with MeSH terms search was performed, focussing on clinical studies that reported data on prosthetic complications associated with implant fixed complete dentures, implant overdentures, implant fixed partial dentures, and implant single crowns. Results: There were nine prosthetic complications reported with implant fixed complete dentures, 17 with implant overdentures, four with implant fixed partial dentures, and six with implant single crowns. The greatest number of complications and the largest incidence of percentages occurred with implant overdentures. The lowest incidence percentages were recorded for implant single crowns. These findings are in agreement with the previous 2003 publication. It is of interest to note that some of the complications reported previously were not reported in this review, and some complications reported in this review were not listed in the 2003 publication, thereby limiting the number of direct comparisons between this paper and the earlier report. A surprising finding was that some complications associated with implant overdentures from the current data exceeded the incidence in 2003 (reactivation of the retentive attachment; mucosal hyperplasia; and the need for overdenture relines). Conclusions: Implant overdentures are associated with more complications than implant fixed complete dentures, implant fixed partial dentures, and implant single crowns. The lowest incidence of complications was reported with implant single crowns. The most common complication reported with implant fixed complete dentures was denture tooth fracture. The most common complication associated with implant overdentures was the need for adjustments. Porcelain veneer fracture/chipping was the most common complication identified in the studies of implant fixed partial dentures. The most common complication reported with implant single crowns was abutment screw loosening. Keywords: implant complications, prosthetic complications