Prosthesis and Implant Survival in Immediately Loaded Temporary Full Arch Restorations

In immediate loading of implants of completely edentulous patients, the most common post-surgical complication following the surgery noted in the dental literature is fracture of the provisional restoration with rates ranging from 4.17% to 41%. Most of these fractures occur because polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) materials are inadequate and have low rigidity to withstand extended periods of heavy occlusal use. Fractures of full arch provisional restorations during healing are concerning, because they eliminate cross-arch stabilization and disrupt stress distribution patterns which might jeopardize implant osseointegration affecting the survival rates for implants. Therefore, it is important to look for another material that has higher rigidity than PMMA and can withstand masticatory forces for extended periods without fractures or load concentration on the implants during the osseointegration period.