EVALUATION OF MARGINAL BONE LOSS AND PATIENT SATISFACTION IN SINGLE IMPLANT RETAINED MANDIBULAR OVERDENTURE USING TWO DIFFERENT ATTACHMENT DESIGNS

The aim of this study: is to evaluate the marginal bone level changes radiographically and patient satisfaction in immediately loaded single implant retaining mandibular overdenture using two different attachment designs (ball and socket versus telescopic).
Materials and Methods: Twenty completely edentulous patients were selected for inclusion in this study. All patients received new maxillary and mandibular dentures. One single para-symphyseal implant was inserted for each patient, immediate loading protocol was done. The patients were divided randomly to have either ball and socket attachment or telescopic attachment. In both groups, radiographic evaluation was done using the standardized long cone peri-apical technique to detect the peri-implant marginal bone level mesial and distal to the implants at two intervals (0-6 months and 0-12 months). Patient satisfaction was evaluated by OHIP-EDENT questionnaire at loading time (baseline), 6 and 12 months after loading. The data obtained were tabulated and statistically analyzed.
Results: During the follow-up periods, the marginal bone level around each implant was recorded mesially and distally in both groups (at loading time, after 6 months and after 12 months). .There was no significant difference at the follow-up intervals between the marginal bone loss mesially and distally. There was no statistically significance between the two groups at the 1st and 2nd intervals. Meanwhile, there was a significant difference between the mean bone level change at the 1st interval and the 2nd interval in each group. As the P-Value is 0.000. This means that there is a direct correlation between time and the marginal bone loss. According to the patient satisfaction by OHIP-EDENT questionnaire, there was no significant difference between the two groups.
Conclusion: Within the limitations of the present study, the patient satisfaction remained high after treatment with immediately loaded mandibular overdentures supported by one titanium dental implants at the para-symphyseal region in both attachment designs. The telescopic attachment with immediately loaded single implant mandibular overdenture can be a viable and promising treatment option for edentulous patients. It can be as efficient as the ball and socket attachment. Long-term observations and outcomes are needed before recommending it as a treatment modality.