title: Long and short term management of implant-supported mandibular overdentures.
abstract: Common problems with the long term clinical use of implant-supported mandibular overdentures (ISMDs) include fractures of dentures, bars and clips, and reactivation of clips. Many general dental practitioners (GDPs) are reticent to be involved in the maintenance of ISMDs, especially if they have not had any further training or are unfamiliar with implant components and systems. This article highlights the need for the training of GDPs in maintenance and management of ISMDs as an increasing number of edentulous patients are being provided with ISMDs, resulting in an increasing need for the maintenance of the prosthesis in the primary care setting at a possible cost to the patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implant-supported overdentures are becoming a common treatment option for edentulous patients, however, they are not without their clinical challenges, many of which can be easily rectified in a primary care environment, such as general practice.
authors.affiliation: Prosthetics Department, Birmingham Dental Hospital, St Chad's Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NN, UK.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parmar
authors.affiliation: Prosthetics Department, Birmingham Dental Hospital, St Chad's Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NN, UK.
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karir
authors.affiliation: Prosthetics Department, Birmingham Dental Hospital, St Chad's Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NN, UK.
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walmsley
authors.affiliation: Prosthetics Department, Birmingham Dental Hospital, St Chad's Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NN, UK.
authors.forename: Upen
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D001732:Bite Force; D003729:Dental Care; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003819:Denture Bases; D003779:Denture Design; D003781:Denture Retention / Q000295:instrumentation; D003826:Denture, Complete, Lower; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D057873:Peri-Implantitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D011320:Primary Health Care
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants