Retrospective evaluation of treatment options for complete edentulism

Aim: Prosthetic treatment of edentulous patients is a problem for dentists. Traditional complete dentures and implant-supported fixed and removable prostheses, which are increasingly used today, can be applied in the rehabilitation of these patients. The treatment option is decided according to the patient's systemic condition, existing bone structure, need for soft tissue support, economic status and expectation from the treatment. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the distribution of prosthetic treatments using demographic data of the patients. Method: In this study, the records of 1984 edentulous patients whose treatment was completed in Dicle University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Prosthodontics between 2018 and 2023 were evaluated and the data obtained were analysed. The treatment options applied to edentulous patients were categorised under three main headings as traditional complete denture, removable prosthesis on implant and fixed prosthesis on implant. The demographic data of the patients and the distribution rates of the treatment options were analysed. Results: Of the 1984 edentulous patients, 1009 were male and 975 were female. The distribution of the prosthetic treatment options applied to the patients was 88.8% complete dentures, 6.6% removable prosthesis on implant, 4.6% fixed prosthesis on implant. The distribution of the ages of the patients was as follows: 53.5% 18-64 years, 33.3% 65-74 years, 11.6% 75-84 years and 1.6% 85 years and older. In our study, the age distribution of the patients who underwent implant-supported prosthetic treatment was 62.1% aged 18-64 years, 30.4% aged 65-74 years, 7.1% aged 75-84 years and 0.4% aged 85 years and older. Implant-supported removable prosthesis on implant was applied to 58.9% of the patients and fixed prosthesis on implant was applied to 41.1%. The rate of implant-supported prosthetic treatment in edentulous patients increased by 80.95% at the end of 5 years. Implant-supported prostheses were applied to 53.1% female patients.