Clinical Effectiveness of Mandibular Implant-retained Overdentures

Introduction The literature reports that the treatment of fully edentulous mandibles with implant-retained over-dentures has become a recognised form of therapy: however long-term data on the success are limited. The aim of the present study was to describe the clinical effectiveness of mandibular implant-supported/retained overdentures in the management of a group of edentulous patients. Materials and Methods The study group consisted of 59 consecutive edentulous patients attending the clinic of prosthetic dentistry at Cardiff Dental Hospital, who had been provided with implants in the mandible for complete overdenture retention. Several clinical parameters were examined in each patient: mobility of each implant, probing pocket depth, the presence or absence of plaque and calculus on each implant, bleeding index, marginal bone loss, jaw bone quality and quantity, complications that had occurred with the implants and patients opinions of the treatment. Discussion Of implants placed, 97% remained in function. Three fixtures had been lost. There was a high frequency of bleeding on probing. Complications associated with treatment included damage or looseness of abutment screws, fracture of the bar, entrapment of food beneath the overdenture and looseness of the opposing non-implant-retained complete denture. Conclusion In general a very high degree of patient satisfaction with the implant-retained overdentures was recorded.