Removable Implant-Supported Maxillary Prostheses Anchored on Milled Bars: A Retrospective Evaluation of Two Concepts

Removable maxillary prostheses (n = 31) rigidly retained on either a one-piece anteriorly located milled bar fixed on four implants located in the anterior maxillary region (group 1, n = 15) or on two bilaterally placed milled bars fixed on six to eight implants located in the posterior maxillary region (group 2, n = 16) were evaluated for prosthodontic maintenance and the calculated bar-generated supporting area. Comparisons of the incidence of prosthodontic maintenance and the supporting area generated by the bars did not differ between groups. Evident advantages were noted for the anterior concept (group 1) with regards to surgical, technical, and prosthodontic aspects, suggesting a preference for this approach versus the more intricate and complex posterior concept (group 2) under particular circumstances and on appropriate indication. Int J Prosthodont 2009; 22: 576-578.