A comparison of the retentive force of ball and socket attachment versus magnet attachment in mandibular overdentures: A randomized control trial

Abstract

Aim: To compare the retention and patient satisfaction of implant-supported mandibular overdentures with ball and socket attachment versus magnet attachment. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four participants (10 males and 14 females) were divided into two equal groups (n = 12). Both groups received implant-supported mandibular overdentures retained by ball and magnet attachment. Two implants were installed in the canine region bilaterally. Evaluation of retention was made at overdenture insertion, 3, 6, and 12 months. Patient satisfaction evaluation with Oral Health Impact Profile Questionnaire-14 (OHIP-14) was made at overdenture insertion 3, and 12 months subsequently. Results: The ball group showed a statistically significantly higher retention force (P < 0.05) than the magnet group at insertion, 3 and 6 months. The ball group had a statistically significantly lower mean of physical disability and physical pain (P < 0.05) than the magnet group through all follow-up. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to compare between groups as well as to study the changes by time within each group. Conclusion: Both implant-supported mandibular overdenture retained with magnet or ball and socket attachments consider a successful treatment option with superior improvement in the ball and socket group.