Chewing efficiency, bite force and oral health-related quality of life with narrow diameter implants - a prospective clinical study: results after one year.

The stabilisation of a lower complete prosthesis with four NDIs is a feasible minimally invasive and economical approach to improve oral function and OHRQoL, especially in elderly patients with limited bone support. Functional benefits might be more evident if patients receive chewing instructions. Larger studies need to confirm a positive effect on chewing efficiency and develop long-term maintenance solutions if patients become frail because no easy downgrading approaches of one-piece titanium implants exist.