A COMPARATIVE PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF SPLINTED AND UNSPLINTED BRANEMARK IMPLANTS IN MANDIBULAR OVERDENTURE THERAPY - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Thirty-six edentulous patients, each provided with two Branemark impla nts in the mandible to anchor an overdenture, were selected for this s tudy and randomly divided into three groups of 12 patients each. In ea ch group a different attachment system was used: (1) magnets, (2) ball attachments, and (3) straight bars with clips (control). The mean loa ding time was 12.4 months (range 3 to 24 months). This study investiga ted (1) the clinical behavior of loaded implants by means of overdentu res related to their connection system (splinted versus unsplinted) an d (2) the clinical performance of prosthetic treatment. Preliminary re sults indicate no differences; no failures occurred and the level of m arginal bone height, as well as the probing attachment level, changed similarly in the three groups. Although splinted bar-retained overdent ures scored better objectively, subjective satisfaction ratings did no t differ. It was concluded that for the short follow-up period, the st ate of connection did not influence the clinical success of implants. However, no definite conclusions may be drawn until long-term data bec ome available.