Mandibular implant-retained overdenture: A clinical trial of two anchoragesystems

This in-vivo study aimed to investigate the load on the working-side implan t and on the edentulous distal mucosa of the nonworking side in a mandibula r implant-retained overdenture (MIR-OVD) anchored to 2 implants by either a ball- or a clips-and-bar attachment. Three female patients were provided w ith, duplicate dentures anchored in the 2 ways. Strain on the implant was i nvestigated using a strain-gauged abutment, and load on the mucosa was meas ured using a suitably placed load cell. Ball attachments appeared to provid e greater stability to the MIR-OVD, since load was more evenly distributed onto the distal mucosa of both sides. When the MIR-OVD was bar-anchored, ax ial load on the working-side abutment increased. (Int J Oral Maxillofac Imp lants 1998;13:851-856).