CLINICAL AND RADIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF SOFT-LINER ATTACHMENT FOR BAR/IMPLANT RETAINED MAXILLARY OVERDENTURES. A ONE YEAR PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Aim of the study: This study aimed to evaluate clinical and radiographic outcome of soft-liner attachment for bar/implant retained maxillary overdentures after one year. Materials and methods: Six completely edentulous patients (3 males and 3 females) complained from lack of stability and insufficient retention of their maxillary dentures received 4 implants in the anterior part of the maxilla (2 at canine areas and 2 at 2nd premolar areas) using the standardized two-stage submerged surgical protocol. Six months after surgery, implants were connected with a resilient bar with 2 short distal cantilevers of 7mm length. The fitting surfaces of maxillary dentures were lined with auto polymerized addition silicone resilient liner which is used as a female housing over the bar using closed mouth technique. Plaque Index (PI), Bleeding Index (BI), and Gingival Index (GI), Probing depth (PD), Implant stability (ISQ) and Marginal bone loss (MBL) were evaluated at time of overdenture insertion T0, 6 months after overdenture insertion (T6) and 12 months after overdenture insertion (T12). Results: None of the implants failed after one year follow-up resulted in 100% survival rate. There was no significant difference in PI, GI, BI between observation times. Both PD and MBL increased significantly with time. ISQ decreased significantly at T6 and increased again at T12. There was a significant positive correlation between MBL and PD only. Conclusion: Soft liner attachments for cantilevered bar-implant retained maxillary overdentures are associated with good peri-implant soft tissue health, good implant stability and minimal marginal bone loss after one year.