TREATMENT CONCEPT FOR MANDIBULAR OVERDENTURES SUPPORTED BY ENDOSSEOUSIMPLANTS - A LITERATURE-REVIEW

Edentulous patients with a severely resorbed mandible often experience problems with their dentures. Treatment concepts involving two to fou r implants for the support of an overdenture have been proposed. The a im of this study was to develop a treatment concept for mandibular ove rdentures supported by endosseous implants based on a review of the li terature. It is proposed that two implants supporting a mandibular ove rdenture (bar construction) are sufficient for most applications. Four implants are indicated in situations involving a dentulous maxilla, a narrow mandibular arch, extreme resorption of the mandible (bone heig ht greater than 12 mm), and mandibular soreness and pain.