Abstract
In the current study the incidence of food impaction between implant-supported fixed dental prostheses and adjacent teeth was determined and the factors that influence food impaction were identified. Seven hundred seventy-nine implant prosthetic crowns and 879 adjacent sites from a pool of 489 patients were retrospectively studied. Food impaction existed in 16.6% of patients with implant restorations at the follow-up evaluations. Food impaction occurred more frequently on the mesial aspect of the implant prosthesis and the molar area. Among the factors that affected food impaction, proximal contact loss was shown to be the major cause (78.6%), while the incidence of food impaction on the mesial and distal aspects was 58.0% and 20.6%, respectively. Based on single-factor analysis of variance, gender, implant location, mesial and distal aspects of the prosthesis, and lost time before implant restoration were the factors that influenced proximal contact loss in patients (P < 0.05). In conclusion, proximal contact loss was shown to be highly associated with food impaction. Thus, gender, the molar area, the mesial aspect of the prosthesis, and the lost time before implant restoration should be fully considered. Guidance on the proper use and maintenance of prostheses is essential to achieve an optimal outcome.
Keywords:
food impaction; implant restoration; implantology; maintenance of the prostheses; proximal contact loss
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