Scientific information on implant removable partial denture

Abstract

Our country stands at the forefront of the super-aging society, a demographic shift that necessitates a fundamental paradigm change in implant treatment strategies. This invited literature review aimed to investigate the available scientific evidence on implant removable partial denture (IRPD) regarding treatment modalities, survival and success rates of dental implant or IRPD, marginal bone level around implant, functional parameters, oral health-related QOL, patient satisfaction, implant placement location, loading protocol, denture designs, attachment systems, biological and prosthodontic complications. In addition to previously published evidence, recent literature was surveyed based on the authors’ scoping review and systematic review on IRPDs published in 2024. Nevertheless, the currently available scientific evidence remains limited and insufficient for establishing clear and standardized treatment strategies for IRPDs. Two principal treatment modalities for IRPDs have been identified. One involves attachment systems, in which healing abutments or dedicated attachments are connected to placed implants and incorporated beneath the denture base. The other modality consists of implant-crown– or fixed partial denture–retained removable partial dentures (IC/F-RPDs), in which implant-supported surveyed crowns or fixed partial dentures function as direct or indirect abutments. Clinical application of IRPDs requires particularly careful consideration, as these prostheses create an extremely complex intraoral environment in which natural teeth, dental implants, and removable dentures coexist and interact biomechanically and biologically.