TUNG ET AL THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY

JANUARY 2001 39

of the surgical phase of the treatment of edentulism by osseointe-grated implants: an in vitro study. J Prosthet Dent 1991;65:541-6.

22. Emtiaz S, Tarnow DP. Processed acrylic resin provisional restoration withlingual cast metal framework. J Prosthet Dent 1998;79:484-8.

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DIVISION OF RECONSTRUCTIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE CARE

COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY

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Copyright © 2001 by The Editorial Council of The Journal of ProstheticDentistry.

0022-3913/2001/$35.00 + 0. 10/1/112495

doi:10.1067/mpr.2001.112495

A comparison of laser-welded titanium and conventionalcast frameworks supported by implants in the partiallyedentulous jaw: A 3-year prospective multicenter study Jemt T, Henry P, Lindén B, Naert I, Weber H, Bergström C.Int J Prosthodont 2000;13:282-8.

Purpose. This study evaluated the clinical performance of laser-welded titanium implant-sup-ported fixed partial dentures (FPDs) and compared these prostheses with conventional castimplant-supported FPDs in a prospective, multicenter study design.Material and methods. Four prosthetic specialty centers participated in the study over 5 years.This publication covered the first 3 years of follow-up on 2 separate groups of patients. Forty-twopatients were divided into 2 groups of 21 patients each. Group 1 patients exhibited bilateral pos-terior edentulism and were randomized. A conventional cast implant-supported FPD withporcelain veneers was inserted on one side intraorally, and a laser-welded titanium implant-sup-ported FPD with low-fusing porcelain veneers (Procera Porcelain, Nobel Biocare) was insertedintraorally on the opposite side. The conventional cast frameworks served as controls. All group2 patients had been provided with conventional cast implant-supported FPDs at least 1 year ear-lier; these prostheses were in need of replacement. The old prostheses were replaced withlaser-welded titanium implant-supported FPDs with low-fusing porcelain. Patient ages rangedfrom 18 to 75 years at the onset of the study. No patients had received any intraoral grafts or radi-ation in the head or neck region, and none were drug and/or alcohol abusers. Thirty patientswere smokers. The patients were provided with 170 Brånemark system implants and abutmentcylinders (Nobel Biocare). Sixty-two teeth were replaced with both types of frameworks in group1, and 68 teeth were replaced in group 2. After insertion of the prostheses, the patients werescheduled for annual follow-ups. Clinical and radiographic data from 3 years of follow-up visitswere gathered and analyzed. Prosthesis and implant survival rates were evaluated by means of lifetable analyses. Wilcoxon’s ranked sum test was used to analyze the marginal bone loss in relationto the height of the abutment cylinder clinically. A Chi-square test was used to evaluate fracturesof porcelain in both test and control prostheses. To accomplish radiographic analysis, mean val-ues between the mesial and distal measurements were recorded. Results. Two patients from group 1 were lost to follow-up during the first 3 years, and 1 patientfrom group 2 was withdrawn each consecutive year. Only 1 implant failed, and all prostheses werefunctioning after the third annual follow-up. Similar clinical performance was exhibited with the 2framework designs. Few complications were noted. One abutment and 9 porcelain units fractured.Four prostheses had loose gold screws. In group 1, marginal bone loss was similar for both pros-thetic designs. On average, no bone loss was observed in group 2 patients. Neither placement of theprosthesis margin nor the prosthesis design was significantly related to resultant marginal bone loss. Conclusion. During this 3-year follow-up study of 42 partially edentulous patients, the clinicalperformance of laser-welded titanium implant-supported FPDs was similar to the performance ofconventional cast implant-supported FPDs. 41 References. —DL Dixon

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