Clinical Experiences with Laser-Welded Titanium Frameworks Supported by Implants in the Edentulous Mandible: A 10-Year Follow-Up Study

• Published in: Clinical implant dentistry and related research 2006-01, Vol.8 (4), p.198-209
• Main Authors: Örtorp, Anders, Jemt, Torsten
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 80 and over; Adult; adverse effects; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alveolar Bone Loss; Alveolar Bone Loss - etiology; bone loss; Dental Implantation; Dental Implantation, Endosseous - adverse effects; Dental Implants; Dental Implants - adverse effects; Dental Prosthesis; Dental Prosthesis Design; Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; Dental Restoration Failure; Dental Soldering; Dentistry; edentulism; Edentulous; Endosseous; etiology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gold Alloys; Humans; Implant-Supported; Jaw; Jaw, Edentulous - rehabilitation; laser-welded; Lasers; Life Tables; long-term follow-up; lower jaw; Male; Mandible; Middle Aged; Odontologi; prostheses; rehabilitation; Retrospective Studies; Titanium; Welding
• ISSN: 1523-0899; 1708-8208
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1708-8208.2006.00020.x

ABSTRACT Background:  Long‐term follow‐up studies for more than 5 years are not available on laser‐welded titanium frameworks. Purpose:  To report and compare 10‐year data on implant‐supported prostheses in the edentulous mandible provided with laser‐welded titanium frameworks and conventional gold alloy frameworks. Materials and Methods:  Altogether, 155 patients were consecutively treated with prostheses at abutment level with two generations of fixed laser‐welded titanium frameworks (test groups). A control group of 53 randomly selected patients with conventional gold alloy castings was used for comparison. Clinical and radiographic 10‐year data were collected for the three groups. Results:  All patients followed‐up for 10 years (n=112) still had fixed prostheses in the mandible (cumulative success rate CSR] 100%). The overall 10‐year cumulative success rate (CSR) was 92.8 and 100.0% for titanium and gold alloy frameworks, respectively. Ten‐year implant cumulative survival rate (CSR) was 99.4 and 99.6% for the test and control groups, respectively. Average 10‐year bone loss was 0.56 (SD 0.45) mm for the titanium group and 0.77 (SD 0.36) mm for the control group (p < 0.05). The most common complications for titanium frameworks were resin or veneer fractures, soft tissue inflammation, and fractures (12.9%) of the metal frame. Loose and fractured implant screw components were below 3%. Conclusion:  Excellent overall long‐term results with 100% CSR could be achieved with the present treatment modality. Fractures of the metal frames and remade prostheses were more common for the laser‐welded titanium frameworks, and the first generation of titanium frameworks worked poorly when compared with gold alloy frameworks during 10 years (p < 0.05). However, on average more bone loss was observed for implants supporting gold alloy frameworks during 10 years. The reasons for this difference are not clear.