Próteses parciais removíveis auxiliadas por implantes distais: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract

The rehabilitation of Kennedy Class I or II patients represents a relevant clinical challenge, particularly due to the biomechanical instability observed in clasp-retained removable partial dentures (RPDs). The use of distally positioned dental implants has been proposed as a therapeutic alternative to improve the retention and support of these prostheses, giving rise to Implant-Assisted Removable Partial Dentures (IARPDs). This study aims to conduct a systematic review to evaluate the clinical performance of IARPDs compared to clasp-retained RPDs, focusing on prosthetic stability, implant survival rate, and the impact on patients’ oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). The research question was structured according to the PICOS strategy, considering patients with free-end edentulism treated with distal implant-assisted removable partial dentures (DIARPDs) in comparison with clasp-retained RPDs. To this end, a systematic review was developed, with the search performed in the MEDLINE (via PubMed), LILACS (via the Virtual Health Library), Scopus, Scielo and Cochrane databases in January 2026, using controlled descriptors and their respective entry terms, combined by the Boolean operators 'AND' and 'OR'. Randomized clinical trials published between 2021 and 2026 were included, with a total of 87 articles selected. After careful screening of the abstracts, removal of duplicates, and exclusion of studies that strayed from the topic, 8 articles were selected. The results indicated that DIARPDs present high implant survival rates and a significant improvement in prosthetic stability, comfort, and patients' quality of life, establishing them as an effective therapeutic alternative.