Esthetic outcome of implant-supported single-tooth replacements assessed by the patient and by prosthodontists.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess and compare patients' and clinicians' judgments of the esthetic outcome of implant-supported single-tooth replacements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In all, 29 patients with 41 single implant-supported crowns in the maxillary anterior region participated in the study. The esthetic outcome of the implant-supported crowns was assessed by the patients and by 5 prosthodontists by means of a questionnaire in which various esthetics-related variables were addressed and responded to using visual analogue scales. Multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate the influence of the variables on the overall satisfaction with the implant-supported crown. RESULTS: Most variables in the patients' assessments revealed mean values above 90% and median values close to 100%. No single factor used in the multiple regression analysis was found to influence a patient's satisfaction with appearance of the crown at a statistically significant level. The clinicians' degree of satisfaction was for all variables lower than that of the patients. In 89% of the cases the clinicians could correctly locate the single implant-supported crown. Among the variables assessed, surrounding soft tissue appearance and form of the crown had the strongest influence on the clinician's overall satisfaction with the appearance of the crown. CONCLUSION: Appreciation of the esthetic outcome of the single implant-supported crowns was rated higher by the patients than by the prosthodontists. Furthermore, factors considered by professionals to be of significance for the esthetic result of the restorative treatment may not be of decisive importance for the patient's satisfaction.