title: Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Edentulous Patients with Two- vs Four-Locator-Retained Mandibular Overdentures: A Prospective, Randomized, Crossover Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in a prospective, randomized crossover trial in patients with mandibular overdentures retained with two or four locators.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 30 patients with edentulous mandibles, four implants (ICX-plus implants [Medentis Medical]) were placed in the intraforaminal area. Eight weeks after transgingival healing, patients were randomly assigned to have two or four implants incorporated in the prosthesis. After 3 months, the retention concepts were switched. The patients with a two-implant-supported overdenture had four implants incorporated, whereas patients with a four-implant-supported overdenture had two retention locators taken out. After 3 more months, all four implants were retained in the implant-supported overdenture in every patient. To measure OHRQoL of the patients, the Oral Health Impact Profile 14, German version (OHIP-14 G), was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A considerable increase in OHRQoL could be seen in all patients after the prosthesis was placed on the implants. Also, a statistically significant difference of OHRQoL could be seen in the OHIP-14 G scores between two-implant and four-implant overdentures. Patients had a higher OHRQoL after incorporation of four implants in the overdenture compared with only two implants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with implant-retained overdentures had better OHRQoL compared with those with conventional dentures. The number of incorporated implants in the locator-retained overdenture also influenced the increase in OHRQoL, with four implants having a statistically significant advantage over two implants.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karbach
authors.forename: Sinsa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jahn-Eimermacher
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported / Q000523:psychology*; D003781:Denture Retention / Q000523:psychology; D003826:Denture, Complete, Lower / Q000523:psychology*; D003828:Denture, Overlay / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016019:Survival Analysis; D064232:Visual Analog Scale
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants