Rehabilitation of Reabsorbed Maxillae With Implants in Buttresses in Patients With Combination Syndrome

PurposeTo assess the success and marginal bone loss, after 1 year of loading, of implants placed in anatomic buttresses of atrophic maxillae to rehabilitate patients with combination syndrome.Materials and MethodsA case series retrospective study of 22 patients with combination syndrome who were treated with implants in anatomic buttresses in the atrophic maxilla was performed. The inclusion criteria were Classes IV and V Cawood and Howell maxillary atrophy, rehabilitation with implants placed in anatomic buttresses, the presence of anterior remnant teeth in the mandible, and a minimum follow-up of 12 months after implant loading. The criteria of Buser et al were used to evaluate implant success, and marginal bone loss was measured on periapical radiographs. Statistical analysis was performed to relate implant success and marginal bone loss to gender, degree of maxillary atrophy, implant technique, and prosthesis type.ResultsA total of 18 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. A total of 117 implants were placed; 32 were placed with the conventional technique in the alveolar ridges with enough height and width, 35 were positioned palatally, 30 were tilted in the frontomaxillary buttress, 10 were placed in the pterygomaxillary area, 6 were placed in the nasopalatine canal, and 4 were zygomatic implants. The follow-up ranged from 1 to 7 years after implant loading. Of the 117 implants, 7 failed, for an implant success rate of 94%. The mean marginal bone loss was 0.63 mm. A statistically significant relation was found between bone loss and implant placement technique and the level of maxillary atrophy, being greater in tilted implants and in Class V Cawood and Howell maxillary atrophy.ConclusionsImplants in anatomic buttresses allow rehabilitation of atrophic maxillae in patients with combination syndrome. The implant success rate was high, and a mean marginal bone loss of 0.63 mm was recorded.