Authors: Aly F. Sallam, Fatma A. EL Waseef, Wael Said Ahmed, Nesreen El MekawyMansoura University
Background: For implant overdenture therapy, implant positions are diverse and seemingly arbitrary; many based their evidence upon empirical information without evidence-based dental theory.
Purpose: The aim of the current study was to evaluate how far the interimplant distance and attachment type can affect the retention and chewing efficiency of implant supported mandibular overdentures using OT Equator and locator attachments.
Materials and Methods: 18 completely edentulous participants were involved in this study. Each patient received new conventional complete dentures before implant positioning. Two implants were placed in the mandible with intercanine space of 25mm, using a stereolithographic template. After the healing period, the conventional dentures were converted into implant supported overdentures attached, with OT Equator attachments for (group A) and Locator attachments for (group B). Retention was evaluated for conventional complete dentures (T0), 3 months after overdenture delivery (T1) and 6 months later (T2) using digital forcemeter. Masticatory efficiency was also assessed at the same time intervals recorded for retention using two-colored chewing gum. Unmixed Fraction (UF) was then computed.
Results: The present study showed significant difference between the two groups as Locator group demonstrated significantly higher retention values than OT Equator group. The results of the study revealed significant statistical difference among the interval times for both groups. The values of retention increased significantly 3 months of overdenture delivery (T1) and then decreased after 6 months (T2) but not less than (T0). This study reported a non-statistically significant difference between the observation times at all chewing strokes except at 50 strokes (T0-T1) for group A. With respect to group B, statistically significant differences were only shown at all chewing strokes at (T0-T1). Upon comparing the two studied groups, the results reported no statistically significant difference at T1 and T2. Regarding T0, there were statistically significant differences between studied groups at all chewing strokes except for 5 & 30 strokes.
Conclusions: Inter-implant distance of 25 mm for 2-implant overdenture could be a reliable modality for edentulous mandible. Overdenture retained by Locator is a remarkable treatment respecting the retention and chewing efficiency.
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