THE EFFECT OF MAGNETIC AND LOCATOR ATTACHMENTS ON STRAIN AROUND IMPLANTS RETAINING MANDIBULAR OVERDENTURE: AN IN VITRO STUDY

Objectives: This in-vitro strain gauge study was conducted to compare between magnetic and locator attachments regarding strain induced around two implants supporting a mandibular overdenture.
Methodology: The study was performed on acrylic models of a completely edentulous mandibular arch with two implants installed bilaterally at the canine areas. The strain induced around the implants was studied during unilateral and bilateral loading at the first molar area using a universal testing machine.
Results: The results of this study showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the two studied groups during unilateral loading with higher values in the locator attachment group while during bilateral loading there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups but with higher micro-strain values for the magnetic attachment group
Conclusion: Within the limitation of this in-vitro study, it could be conclude that the attachment type could have an effect on the amount of load that will be transmitted to the implants supporting an over denture. Clinical studies are required to evaluate the effect of type of attachment on peri-implant crestal alveolar bone loss and correlate it with the results of the current study.