Survival and success rates of soft-milled cobalt-chromium-ceramic full-arch screw-retained implant-supported prostheses: a 2- to 7-year follow-up retrospective study

Objectives To retrospectively assess implant and prosthesis survival and success and patient satisfaction in edentulous patients treated with soft-milled cobalt-chromium-ceramic full-arch screw-retained implant-supported prostheses (SCCSIPs) over a mean clinical follow-up period of 4 years. Materials and methods Twenty-one edentulous patients, aged 47–80 years, underwent restoration with 27 SCCSIPs (210 implants, 349 crown units). After definitive prosthesis insertion, patients participated in a yearly dental check-up recall program, including clinical and radiographic examinations. All supporting implants were examined for biological and technical complications, and the restorations were evaluated using modified California Dental Association (CDA) criteria. Life table and Kaplan–Meier survival analyses were performed. Patient satisfaction regarding chewing, esthetics, comfort, and phonetics was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS). Results After a mean of 4 years, two implants (3.8%) failed, with no effect on prosthesis survival. The cumulative survival rate was 98.6% and 100% for implants and prostheses, respectively. The most frequent minor biological complication was soft tissue recession (11%). Porcelain fracture was the only major technical complication (0.6% of crown units), while the only minor technical complication was porcelain chipping (4% of crown units), which required only polishing. Overall, 66.7% of the prostheses were free of technical complications. Patient satisfaction was high to very high. Less satisfaction was noted with comfort due to soft tissue recession and food impaction. Conclusions Within the limitations of this study, we conclude that the survival and success rates of SCCSIPs in edentulous patients were excellent. Clinical relevance SCCSIPs should be considered when planning metal-ceramic implant-supported restorations.