A 10-year follow-up study of the masticatory system after treatment with osseointegrated implant bridges.
Twenty-one patients with osseointegrated implant bridges (OIB), with an average age of 65 yr, were functionally examined at a 10-yr follow-up. Altogether 27 OIBs, supported by 138 fixtures, were examined. The examination comprised an anamnestic and clinical examination and registration of bite force. 90% of the patients were very satisfied with the outcome of the treatment. According to the anamnestic dysfunction index (Ai), 80% of the patients were symptom free in their masticatory system. The occlusal state was found to be good. Seventy-five percent of the patients were found to have only mild dysfunction of their masticatory system or to be symptomless according to the clinical dysfunction index (Di). The bite force ranged from 3 to 118 N at gentle biting, from 25 to 250 N at "biting as when chewing" and from 77.5 to 495.5 N at maximal bite force. On average the bite force had improved significantly at all bite-force levels tested compared to an examination 10 yr earlier. It is concluded that oral function in patients with OIBs is very favorable.