CHEWING EFFICIENCY WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF BAR JOINT USED TO RETAIN MANDIBULAR IMPLANT OVERDENTURES. A CROSS OVER STUDY

Abstract

Objectiv: This article aimed to evaluate, within patient, the chewing efficiency with different types of bar joint used to retain mandibular implant overdentures . Materials and methods: ten (5 males and 5 females) completely edentulous patients (mean age is 59 years old) received maxillary and mandibular conventional dentures (control group, GI). After, 3 months of adaptation, 2 implants were inserted in the mandibular canine areas. In a quasi-random method, implants were connected with either Dolder (group II, GII) or Hader (Group III, GIII) bars and patient received mandibular implant overdentues. Chewing efficiency was measured using a 2-colored chewing gum after 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 chewing cycles. Measurements were made 3 months after wearing the following prostheses; new conventional dentures, Dolder bar/ implant retained overdentures and Hader bar/implant retained overdentures. Results: Regardless the number of chewing strokes, GI recorded the highest UF and GIII recorded the lowest UF. GI recorded the significant higher UF compared to GII and GIII. GIII showed significant higher UF than GII. Regardless the group, 5 strokes recorded the highest UF and 50 strokes showed the lowest UF. Conclusion: within limitations of this cross-over study, bar/implant retained overdentures are associated with improved chewing efficiency compared to conventional dentures. Dolder bar used to retain mandibular implant overdentures showed significant increase in chewing efficiency compared to Hader bar.