title: Three-year clinical outcome of single implant-retained mandibular overdentures--results of preliminary prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this preliminary prospective study was to evaluate the clinical outcome, the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and the subjective chewing ability of patients with mandibular complete dentures retained by a single implant placed in the mandible midline.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients wearing complete dentures were treated with a single implant in the mandible, followed by relining of the dentures and incorporation of ball attachments for implant retention. Implant outcome, prosthodontic maintenance, subjective chewing ability, and the oral health impact profile of the patients were assessed at baseline and at four weeks after connecting the denture and implant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven patients were enrolled in this investigation, and the mean observation period was 43.4 months (minimum period: 35, maximum period: 52 months). No implants were lost during observation period, but four dentures needed repair because of the fracture of the denture base in the midline area. A significant improvement was observed in the OHRQoL of the patients after the attachment of the mandibular dentures with a single midline implant. Furthermore, the subjective chewing ability of the patients was significantly improved after implant connection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the limitations of this preliminary prospective clinical study, single implant-supported mandibular overdentures were a successful treatment option for older edentulous patients who showed improvements in their OHRQoL and chewing ability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Propaedeutics, and Dental Materials, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Sönke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harder
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolfart
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Egert
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kern
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D019250:Dental Implants, Single-Tooth / Q000523:psychology; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003834:Denture Precision Attachment; D003823:Denture Rebasing; D003781:Denture Retention / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003826:Denture, Complete, Lower / Q000523:psychology; D003828:Denture, Overlay / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric