Masticatory function with ball and resilient telescopic anchors of mandibular implant-retained overdentures: A crossover study.

OBJECTIVE

The masticatory function of implant-retained overdentures with different attachments has not been sufficiently investigated. This study evaluated the masticatory function of implant-retained mandibular overdentures with ball and resilient telescopic attachments.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

Twelve edentulous participants were rehabilitated with new maxillary and mandibular conventional dentures (CD). Three months later, two implants were installed in the canine regions of the mandible. Following a 3-month healing period, duplicate overdentures were constructed for all patients. In a simple random method, six participants were first given ball-retained overdentures (BOD) and the other six received resilient telescopic-retained overdentures (TOD). After testing these prostheses, the first group received the TOD, while the second group received the BOD. Masticatory functions (chewing efficiency [unmixed fraction, UF] and electromyographic activity [EMG] of masseter muscles) were measured 3 months after wearing each of the following dentures: CD, BOD, and TOD. UF was measured using chewing gum and EMG was recorded for right and left bellies of masseter muscle during clenching with (soft and tough) and without foods.

RESULTS

Regardless of attachment type, implant-retained overdentures demonstrated significant decrease in UF and significant increase in EMG compared to CD. TOD recorded significantly lower UF and significantly higher EMG when compared to BOD.

CONCLUSION

The TOD improves masticatory functions when compared to BOD. Such improvement may be related to the increased retention and stability of these dentures.