# Mechanical Complications in Implant-Supported Prostheses: A Retrospective Analysis of Laboratory Intervention and Associated Factors

## TL;DR

This study examines mechanical issues in dental implants that require lab fixes, finding that prosthesis design and complication severity affect repair time.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific prosthesis types and complication severities linked to prolonged laboratory repair times.

## Key findings

- Material fracture was most common in bar-retained implant-supported overdentures.
- High-severity complications required significantly longer repair times than medium-severity ones.
- Prosthesis type and complication severity independently influenced laboratory repair duration.

## Abstract

Mechanical complications in implant-supported prostheses frequently require dental laboratory intervention, resulting in prolonged treatment time and disruption of clinical workflow. Although prosthetic complications have been widely reported, limited evidence is available regarding those complications that specifically necessitate laboratory repair and their associated working time. Aim: To analyse mechanical complications requiring laboratory intervention in implant-supported prostheses and to evaluate their association with prosthesis type, complication category, and laboratory working time in a university-based clinical setting.

A retrospective observational study was conducted using clinical records of patients treated with implant-supported prostheses between 2018 and 2022. Cases presenting mechanical complications that required laboratory repair were included. Prosthesis type, complication category, complication severity, and laboratory working time were recorded. Descriptive statistics and multivariable analyses were performed to explore associations between variables.

Material fracture was the most frequent complication, particularly in bar-retained implant-supported overdentures. Single implant-supported crowns were more frequently associated with lack of adaptation. High-severity complications required significantly longer laboratory working time than medium-severity complications (mean 17.9 vs. 6.9 days; p < 0.001). Prosthesis type and complication severity were independently associated with laboratory repair duration.

Mechanical complications requiring laboratory intervention differ according to prosthesis design and have a significant impact on laboratory working time. These findings provide relevant information for treatment planning, maintenance strategies, and patient communication, although incidence of complications cannot be inferred due to the absence of denominators.