1st Global Consensus for Clinical Guidelines for the Rehabilitation of the Edentulous Maxilla: A Single‐Round Survey on Standard, Short, and Zygomatic Implant‐Supported Prostheses

OBJECTIVES: To gather expert opinions on the use of standard, short, and/or zygomatic implants supporting fixed and removable prostheses in the edentulous maxilla. The aim of this survey was to inform a consensus development process for the subsequent establishment of a clinical practice guideline for the treatment of the edentulous maxilla. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was developed in preparation for the 1st Global Consensus for Clinical Guidelines for the rehabilitation of the edentulous maxilla. The survey was conducted in a single round using an anonymous questionnaire. The survey included 19 multiple-choice questions and 110 statements, where respondents were asked to rank their agreement for each option provided using a 7-point Likert scale. Consensus was defined as > 75% and ≤ 95% agreement or disagreement, and strong consensus as > 95% agreement or disagreement. RESULTS: A total of 199 experts, including prosthodontists, oral surgeons, periodontists, and general practitioners from 37 countries were invited to participate. Of these, 118 completed the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 59.3%. Of the 110 Likert-scale statements, consensus was reached for 68 (61%) while strong consensus was reached for 5 (4.5%). The statements that achieved strong consensus (> 95%) were: (1) the need for specialized training in the placement of zygomatic implants, (2) the routine use of CT/CBCT imaging for implant planning, (3) the necessity of evaluating maxillary sinus status before performing a lateral sinus lift or (4) when sinus pathology is suspected, and (5) the inclusion of surgical complications as a clinician-reported outcome in future studies. CONCLUSION: The expert survey evaluated treatment approaches for rehabilitation of the edentulous maxilla using standard, short, and/or zygomatic implants to inform a consensus development process and support the establishment of a clinical practice guideline for managing edentulous maxilla.