Milled PMMA, a Material for Long-Term Implant Supported Fixed Complete Dental Prostheses.

ABSTRACT

Traditionally, metal-ceramics, metal-reinforced acrylics, and more recently full-contour or layered zirconia have been the materials of choice for definitive fixed implant-supported rehabilitations. Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) is commonly used in implant dentistry for the fabrication of implant-supported interim prostheses and as milled or 3D printed prototypes. This article describes a novel protocol to prosthetically restore a completely edentulous patient following a digital workflow, with fixed, screw-retained, implant-supported prostheses fabricated from CAD/CAM milled polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), with no metal substructure. After two years follow up in terms of esthetics, phonetics, function and biological tissue response, the outcome remains functional and free of mechanical, biomechanical or biological complications. The aim of this article is to illustrate the feasibility of using milled PMMA as viable definitive prosthetic material for the fixed implant rehabilitation of edentulous patients.