PROFESSIONAL HYGIENE CARE, ADJUSTMENTS AND COMPLICATIONS OF MANDIBULAR IMPLANT-RETAINED OVERDENTURES - A 3-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Purpose. This report presents a retrospective evaluation of postinsert ion care required by 104 edentulous patients with advanced mandibular bone loss. Material and methods, The patients were treated with new ma xillary dentures and mandibular overdentures retained by two implants with a single bar-clip attachment. Distinction was made between profes sional hygiene care, adjustments, and treatment of complications. The follow-up period after insertion of dentures was 3 years for all patie nts. Results. Approximately a third of the patients needed professiona l hygiene care. The need for adjustments declined during the years of function. Complications were encountered in approximately a third of t he patients. The majority of these were not related to the implants, b ut to the superstructure and both the maxillary and mandibular denture s. Conclusions. Many edentulous patients with advanced mandibular bone loss who were treated with mandibular implant-retained overdentures n eed professional hygiene care, adjustments, and treatment of complicat ions.