title: Five-year prospective evaluation of mandibular overdentures retained by two microthreaded, TiOblast nonsplinted implants and retentive ball anchors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this 5-year prospective evaluation was to assess the bone and peri-implant mucosa responses at unsplinted, microthread implants supporting mandibular overdentures and to determine patient responses to therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two implants were placed by a 1-stage procedure in the parasymphyseal mandibles of 59 subjects. Implant placement was followed by immediate insertion of overdentures without connection to abutments. After 3 months, connection using Dalla Bona attachments was made and peri-implant mucosa, peri-implant bone, and patient perceptions of treatment were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The implant success rate was 95.9% from 6 to 60 months. The changes in marginal bone levels were positive (bone gain) but did not reach statistical significance at 12, 36, or 60 months (+0.13 +/- 0.59 mm, +0.23 +/- 0.66 mm, and +0.09 +/- 0.79, respectively). Treatment was viewed as effective; patients rating satisfaction with their teeth increased from a preoperative level of 12.1% to 94.6% at overdenture abutment connection and remained high (81.6%) after 5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expedited mandibular overdenture therapy utilizing unsplinted, microthreaded mandibular parasymphyseal implants was associated with high implant survival, preservation of crestal bone, and high patient satisfaction. Complications were minor and related to prosthodontic features of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, UNC-School of Dentistry, 330 Brauer Hall, CB 7450, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7450, USA. Lyndon_Cooper@dentistry.unc.edu
authors.forename: Lyndon F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Moriarty
authors.forename: Albert D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Guckes
authors.forename: Lindsey B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Klee
authors.forename: Rex G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Almgren
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Felton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003834:Denture Precision Attachment; D003781:Denture Retention / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003826:Denture, Complete, Lower; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium