Objectives: This study investigated the clinical outcomes of single full arch dentures in mandible or maxilla. The survival rate and the clinical maintenance procedures such as fracture repair of the denture base, loss of acrylic teeth or relining were evaluated.
Material and methods: Computer-assited research listed all patients of the Department of Prosthodontics of the Regensburg University Medical Center who had received a full arch denture either in mandible or in maxilla between January 1984 and March 2007. Excluded were patients who were treated in graduate student courses, or patients who had an implant-supported full denture or full dentures in both jaws. 293 patients were included, 101 in the mandible, 192 in the maxilla. There were 144 males and 149 females. The average age of the patients was 67.5+/-13years. The average observation time was 5.7 +/- 4 years with a maximum of 23 years.
Statistics: Means, standard deviation, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.
Results:
| Relining n= | Fracture of denture base | Loss of acrylic teeth | New denture construction |
Maxilla n=192 | 55 | 21 | 19 | 15 |
Mandible n=101 | 20 | 7 | 2 | 7 |
S n= | 75 | 28 | 21 | 22 |
The first relining was carried out after 1.6 years (mean). The first fracture repair of the dentures base were reported after 2.2 years. Loss of acrylic teeth were found after 3.2 years, and a new denture was constructed after 11 +/- 6 years. A calculation using Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed that after 10 years about 60% of the dentures were in use, whereas after 15 years this value had dropped to 43%. A log rank test showed no difference between maxilla and mandible.
Conclusion: Full arch dentures were found to be in oral service in most cases for more than 10 years. However, frequent maintenance procedures were necessary.