FIXED IMPLANT SUPPORTED RESTORATIONS VERSUS CLASSICAL ACRYLIC FULL DENTURES IN ELDERLY PATIENTS: ASSESSING THE SATISFACTION DEGREE

Implant-supported restorations are being used increasingly by dentists to treat maxillary or mandibular total edentulous patients in parallel with the old methods involving acrylic full dentures. Purpose. In this study, we attempted to perform an assessment of satisfaction degree in elderly total edentulous patients who were carriers of acrylic full dentures and were subsequently rehabilitated using cement retained implant-supported restorations. Material and method. The study was conducted using a 5-point questionnaire, applied to a study group of 39 patients aged between 67 and 77 years between April 2014 and June 2018. Results and discussions. The results provide information on how the edentulous condition is perceived, as well as the classical and modern treatment modalities. Conclusions. The treatment of the edentulous condition by fixed implant-supported prosthesis should be regarded as an alternative from the beginning of the treatment.