NON-SUBMERGED OSSEOINTEGRATED DENTAL IMPLANTS WITH BALL ATTACHMENTS SUPPORTING OVERDENTURES IN PATIENTS WITH MANDIBULAR ALVEOLAR RIDGE ATROPHY - A SHORT-TERM FOLLOW-UP

Non-submerged, hollow screw ITI-Bonefit dental implants with ball atta chments supporting overdentures were used as alternative treatment to combined vestibulo-lingualplasty with free split-thickness skin graft and removable dentures in 40 consecutive patients with mandibular alve olar ridge atrophy. One hundred and fifty-six non-submerged fixtures w ere installed. Ball attachments were mounted on the fixtures and impla nt-supported overdentures inserted 3-4 months after fixture installati on. The observation period after implant activation and prosthesis ins ertion varied from 1 to 3 years with a median observation period of 2 years. The overall success rare of individual implants was 99%(155/156 ). The prosthesis function rate was 100%(40/40). The 1-year success ra te of individual implants was 99%(155/156) with a prosthesis function rate of 100%(40/40). No persistent surgical, periodontic or prosthodon tic complications were observed. The results indicate that non-submerg ed osseointegrated ITI-Bonefit dental implants with ball attachments s upporting overdentures can be a successful alternative to combined ves tibulo-lingualplasty with free split-thickness skin graft and removabl e dentures, and as successful as the use of submerged dental implants. (C) Munksgaard, 1996.