title: The influence of the attachment type and implant number supporting mandibular overdentures on stress distribution:  an in vitro study, part I.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main goal of this study was to compare the stress distribution of mandibular overdentures (OVD) with different numbers of supporting implants and single versus splinted attachment types.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four different biting situations were simulated for the 2-, 3-, and 4-implant retentive anchor as well as bar attachment OVDs on a formalin-fixed cadaver mandible, and strains were recorded under vertical loading of 100 N.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The calculated von Mises values from measured strains in all measurement sites and loading conditions for nonsplinted attachments (retentive anchor) were higher than splinted (bar) attachments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It may be concluded that in cases with low quality and quantity of bone, the increase in number of implants and the use of a splinted attachment should be preferred to reduce forces emerging around the implants during function. The use of 2 single attachments in cases with good bone quality and ideal size implants still seems to be a safe and sufficient solution for the treatment of mandibular edentulism with OVDs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Medipol Mega Hospital and University, Istanbul, Turkey. bilhan@istanbul.edu.tr
authors.forename: Selda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arat Bilhan
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bilhan
authors.forename: Ergun
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bozdag
authors.forename: Emin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sunbuloglu
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baykasoglu
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kutay
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001732:Bite Force; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D002102:Cadaver; D015921:Dental Implants; D003768:Dental Occlusion, Centric; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003779:Denture Design; D003781:Denture Retention / Q000295:instrumentation; D003826:Denture, Complete, Lower; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000503:physiopathology; D008334:Mandible / Q000502:physiology*; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants