A 5-year prospective randomized clinical trial on the influence of splinted and unsplinted oral implants retaining a mandibular overdenture: prosthetic aspects and patient satisfaction

Prosthetic outcome and patient satisfaction were evaluated in order to inve stigate whether there is a need or advantage to splint two implants in the mandible retaining a hinging overdenture. This study included 36 fully eden tulous patients randomly divided into three groups according to the attachm ent system they received: magnets, ball attachments or straight bars (refer ence group). None of the implants failed during the whole observation perio d in any of the groups. After 5 years of observation, the Bar group present ed the highest retention capacity and the least prosthetic complications bu t revealed more mucositis and gingival hyperplasia. Patient satisfaction ra ted similar for all groups although the Magnet group showed lower retention forces. All patients would repeat the same treatment even though the major ity of the Magnet group would prefer a more retentive solution because of l imited denture stability.