Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the rehabilitation of patients diagnosed with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), with edentulous maxillas and/or mandibles, by using fixed full-arch short-expand prostheses supported by 4 anterior implants.
Study design: A retrospective study was carried out to study edentulous patients with RDEB rehabilitated with fixed full-arch prostheses supported by 4 anterior implants.
Results: In total, 32 anterior implants were placed and used to support 8 full-arch fixed prostheses; 20 implants were placed in the maxilla by using osteotomes and 12 in the mandible by using conventional drilling. Implant success rate was 100% after an average follow-up of 22.9 (range 12-48) months after prosthetic loading. Patient satisfaction with the implant therapy was very high (mean 9.0) for all the factors assessed.
Conclusions: Fixed full-arch short-expand prostheses supported by 4 anterior implants can be successfully used to rehabilitate patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, considerably improving these patients' quality of life.
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