BITE FORCES WITH MANDIBULAR IMPLANT-RETAINED OVERDENTURES

Sensitivity or pain of the mucoperiosteum covering the mandibular eden tulous ridge is often thought to limit bite forces in complete-denture wearers. Therefore, bite forces with mandibular implant-retained over dentures may depend on the degree of implant support. This study analy zed the effects of different degrees of support for the mandibular den ture on bite forces measured four years after denture treatment as par t of a randomized controlled clinical trial. All subjects had received new maxillary dentures and (1) mainly implant-home overdentures on a transmandibular implant (TMI), (2) mucosa-borne overdentures on two cy lindric permucosal IMZ implants, or (3) new conventional dentures in t he mandible. Fifty-three women and 15 men (mean age, 59.1 yrs; range, 41 to 77) participated in this trial. Both unilateral and bilateral bi te forces were recorded at different positions with a miniature strain gauge transducer and a mechanical bite fork, respectively. The subjec ts were asked to bite at three force levels. Results indicated that wo men had significantly lower maximum bite forces than men. Persons with mandibular implant-retained overdentures had significantly higher uni lateral and bilateral maximum bite forces than complete-denture wearer s. However, bite forces did not differ between the mainly implant-born e (TMI) and mucosa-implant-borne (IMZ) implant systems. Therefore, it appears that differences in support for the mandibular overdenture by dental implants are not reflected in bite force capabilities.