title: Mandibular overdentures supported by two or four endosteal implants. A prospective, comparative study.
abstract: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effect of the number of implants supporting a mandibular overdenture on the condition of the peri-implant tissues. Sixty edentulous patients (Cawood class V VI) participated in this study. After randomization, thirty patients were treated with an overdenture supported by two IMZ implants (group A) and thirty patients with an overdenture on four IMZ implants (group B). The implants were inserted in the anterior region of the mandible. After three months overdentures were constructed, supported by round bar and clip attachments. A standardized clinical and radiographic evaluation was performed 0, 6 and 12 months after insertion of the denture. One implant was lost (group A) during the healing period. There were no significant differences with regard to any of the studied clinical or radiographic parameters of the peri-implant tissues, neither were significant differences found between the lateral and central implants in group B. None of the patients reported a sensory change in lip or chin region. From this study it is concluded that there seems to be no need to insert more than two endosteal implants to support an overdenture, however, long-term prospective studies are needed to support this notion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Maxillofacial Prosthetics, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands. batenbur@worldonline.nl
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Batenburg
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Raghoebar
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Van Oort
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heijdenrijk
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boering
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010474:Percussion; D010512:Periodontal Index; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants