Purpose: The aim of this systematic literature review was to investigate the survival rates of teeth, implants, and double crown-retained removable dental prostheses (RDPs).
Materials and methods: A systematic review of the literature published from January 1973 through May 2010 was conducted using electronic databases and hand-searching to assess the clinical outcomes of teeth, implants, and double crown-retained RDPs.
Results: This review yielded 512 articles, which were narrowed down to 11. The included studies demonstrated tooth survival rates between 60.6% and 95.3% after an observation period of 4 to 10 years. The survival rates of RDPs supported by teeth ranged between 90.0% and 95.1% after 4 and 5.3 years, respectively. The survival rates of implants supporting prostheses in the mandible were between 97% and 100% after an observation period between 3 and 10.4 years. The survival rates of implant-retained RDPs in the mandible ranged between 95% and 100% after 9 and 10.4 years. Teeth and implants supporting prostheses in the maxilla, as well as the RDPs themselves, demonstrated a survival rate of 100% after 3.2 years.
Conclusion: The current literature does not provide sufficient information regarding the long-term outcome of double crown-retained RDPs. Further studies based on a higher level of evidence are needed to validate the outcomes of this treatment modality.