Three-year Prospective Evaluation of Immediately Loaded Mandibular Implant Overdentures retained with Locator Attachments

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Immediate implant-loading protocol has progressed because of various clinical advantages offered by this treatment approach. However, available studies on edentulous patients are still few compared to those in which delayed implantloading protocol was applied. Aim This prospective study was to evaluate the implant survival rate and the peri-implant tissue response in a group of patients who received two unsplinted immediately loaded dental implants in the mandibular anterior region to retain a complete overdenture using locator attachments. Materials and methods A total of 24 edentulous patients with a mean age of 63.4 years were involved in this study following certain inclusion criteria. All patients received a new set of complete dentures before implant positioning. Two Prima Connex tapered implants were put in the interforaminal area of the mandible with a flapless surgical procedure, and the prefabricated dentures were immediately retained with a zest locator attachment. Clinical and radiographic records of the patients were reviewed immediately after placement of the implant, at 3 months, and at 1, 2, and 3 years following fixture installation. The obtained data were analyzed using paired samples t-test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test at 0.05 significance level. Results At 3 years, all implants had osseointegrated with a 100% survival rate. In addition, the total mean marginal bone change was −0.89 ± 0.14 mm, and the mean periotest value was −7.631 ± 0.921. Conclusion Results of this study propose that immediate loading of mandibular implant overdentures that are retained with locator attachments was a feasible treatment alternative for this particular group of patients. Clinical significance Immediate implant- loading of mandibular implant overdentures that are retained with locator attachments is a reliable treatment option How to cite this article Al-Dharrab A. Three-year Prospective Evaluation of Immediately Loaded Mandibular Implant Overdentures retained with Locator Attachments. J Contemp Dent Pract 2017;18(9):842-850.