Maxillary Removable Prostheses Retained by Telescopic Crowns on Two Implants or Two Canines

Precision telescopic attachments allow for rigid connection between removable prostheses and abutments. However, it is still unknown whether implants can bear similar long-term loading forces as teeth when telescopic crowns are used as retention devices. It was the aim of this prospective clinical study to observe maxillary removable partial dentures that were retained by telescopic crowns on two endosseous implants in the canine regions. In a control group, identical dentures were fabricated that were retained by telescopic crowns on the maxillary canines. The implant group consisted of 14 patients, and the control group included 8 patients. Mean observation time of the prostheses was 25.6 months. Radiographic bone levels and periodontal parameters did not reveal specific differences between the two groups. However, five implants failed, and there were no failures in the control group. Survival rates were 48.9% for the implant group and 100% for the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups. Within the limits of this study, it is concluded that the telescopic connection might be too rigid (thus delivering overloading) for two single implants in the canine region of the maxilla supporting a removable denture.