Three-year clinical outcomes of implant treatments provided at a predoctoral implant program

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes from a predoctoral implant clinic over 3 years. Materials and Methods: All patients who received implant-retained mandibular overdentures (IODs) or a single-tooth implant (STI) restoration in the Predoctoral Implant Program at the University of Illinois- Chicago College of Dentistry between 2006 and 2009 were included in this study. A two-stage surgical placement and healing protocol was followed by oral surgery, periodontic, and prosthodontic specialty clinics. The following potential prognostic information was collected: patient age and sex; implant diameter, length, and sites; and complications related to the treatment. Life-table and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed for both IOD and STI patient groups. Results: A total of 371 implants were placed in 243 patients. There were 164 implants placed in 82 patients in the IOD group and 207 implants placed in 161 patients in the STI group. Two implants failed in the IOD group and 2 implants failed in the STI group. The cumulative survival rates for the implants in both the IOD and STI groups were 99%. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed no significant differences between the two groups. The most common complication observed in the IOD group was damage to the attachment inserts, and for the STI group, it was repair or remaking of the definitive prosthesis. Conclusion: As demonstrated by the 3-year clinical outcomes, a predoctoral implant program can provide predictable patient-centered therapy with few complications. Patient therapy, guided by thoughtful diagnosis and driven by restorative outcome, can lead to favorable results.