First Global Consensus for Clinical Guidelines: Structured Recommendations (S2k‐Level Guideline Framework) for the Rehabilitation of the Edentulous Maxilla Based on Core Outcome Sets

OBJECTIVES: Rehabilitation of the edentulous maxilla poses major clinical and patient-centered challenges. While implant survival and marginal bone level changes dominate the literature, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) such as aesthetic satisfaction, comfort, and quality of life remain underrepresented. The Global Consensus for Clinical Guidelines (GCCG) aimed to develop an international, consensus-based guideline for maxillary rehabilitation that integrates PROs and clinician-reported outcomes (ClinROs) within a structured treatment workflow and to identify future research priorities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This S2k-level guideline was developed through a multi-phase process involving clinical experts, a methodologist, patients, and interdisciplinary contributors. Evidence synthesis included eight systematic reviews and six structured surveys. A Core Outcome Set (COS) of 34 critically important outcomes (10 PROs, 22 objective and 2 subjective ClinROs) was established via a three-round Delphi process with 105 experts. Consensus recommendations were generated and voted upon by 105 delegates from 26 countries using nominal group technique and anonymous plenary voting. RESULTS: The guideline defines 36 consensus-based recommendations mapped to 34 COS outcomes, covering all phases of care, patient selection, diagnostics, surgical and prosthetic treatment, complication management, and maintenance. It emphasizes shared decision-making, prosthetically driven planning, immediate protocols when feasible, and risk-based maintenance to prevent surgical, biological, and technical complications. A clinical workflow checklist and decision trees support practical implementation. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first global guideline for edentulous maxilla rehabilitation integrating a COS across all treatment phases, fostering evidence-based, outcome-driven, and patient-centered implant care worldwide.