Crestal bone–level changes and patient satisfaction with mandibular overdentures retained by one or two implants with immediate loading protocols: A randomized controlled clinical study

Abstract

Statement of problemSingle-implant–retained overdentures are an alternative treatment option for an edentulous mandible. However, evaluation of their clinical performance with an immediate loading protocol is lacking. PurposeThe purpose of this prospective randomized controlled clinical study was to evaluate crest bone–level changes and patient satisfaction with mandibular overdentures retained by 1 or 2 titanium-zirconium (Ti-Zr) implants with immediate loading protocols after 1 year. Material and methodsThirty-six Ti-Zr implants were placed in 24 participants (single central implant in 12 participants and 2 interforaminal implants in 11 participants) by a single operator. LOCATOR attachments were used to retain the mandibular overdentures with an immediate loading protocol, and observations were made at 1 month and 1 year. Changes to the crestal bone level were evaluated with digital periapical radiographs. A 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate patient satisfaction. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the data. ResultsAt 1 month, the mean crestal bone loss was 0.23 mm in the 2-implant group (n=22) and 0.39 mm (P=.181) in the single-implant group (n=11). At 1 year, the bone loss was 0.67 mm in the 2-implant group and 0.88 mm (P=.248) in the single-implant group. The mean VAS score for patient satisfaction level increased from 38.3% to 49.7% for single-implant participants and from 40.5% to 54.8% for 2-implant participants 1 month after implant placement (P=.250) and from 38.3% to 54.5% for single-implant participants and from 40.5% to 58.9% for 2-implant participants after 1 year (P=.341). ConclusionsSingle-implant–retained mandibular overdentures with an immediate loading protocol may represent a viable treatment option considering crestal bone–level changes and patient satisfaction compared with 2-implant–retained mandibular overdentures after 1 year of follow-up.