Implant-supported Fixed Dental Prostheses (FDPs) With Cantilever Extension

To report the clinical and radiographic outcomes of implant-supported fixed dental prostheses with full-ceramic cantilever extensions (FDPCs) after a function time ≥ 12 months.

Inclusion Criteria:Patients aged ≥18 yearsWritten informed consentPatients with systemic health or controlled medical conditionsPatients with healthy or treated periodontal conditionsPatients enrolled in regular supportive periodontal therapy (SPT)Patients without clinical signs of bruxism and/or oral parafunctions2 osseointegrated dental implants in the canine or posterior areas of maxilla and mandible following transmucosal placement and healing of 3-6 monthsTissue level solid-screw implants with a sand-blasted and acid- etched (SLA) surface with an endosseous diameter of 3.3, 4.1 or 4.8 mm, a length of 8, 10 or 12 mm, a shoulder diameter of 4.8 mm and a supracrestal machined neck with a height of 1.8 or 2.8 mm (Straumann® Dental Implant System, Institut Straumann AG, Basel, Switzerland)Full-ceramicUtilization of prefabricated titanium abutmentsCemented (3M™ ESPE Ketac™ Cem, Seefeld, Germany) or screw-retained fixed dental prostheses with a mesial or distal cantilever extension (FDPCs)Cantilever extension corresponding to 1 premolar unit (i.e., 6-7 mm)Absence of occlusal contacts or guidance on the cantilever extension at baselineOpposing dentition consisting of natural teeth or fixed or removable prosthetic restorationsAvailability of a periapical radiograph at baseline (i.e. FDPC delivery)Availability of PPD measurements (mm) taken at baseline at 4 sites/implant with a graduated Michigan periodontal probe (Deppeler SA, Rolle, Switzerland)Availability of BoP measurements (%) (Lang et al., 1986) taken at baseline at 4 sites/implant with a graduated Michigan periodontal probe (Deppeler SA, Rolle, Switzerland).Exclusion Criteria:Untreated or active periodontal diseasesImmediate implant placement (i.e., Type I implant placement according to Hämmerle et al., 2004)FDPCs in the aesthetic zone (i.e., replacement of maxillary or mandibular incisors)FDPCs supported by hollow-screw and hollow-cylinder implants