Comparison of prefabricated and custom-made bars used for implant-retained mandibular complete overdentures.

PURPOSE To compare prefabricated and custom-made bars used for implant-retained mandibular complete overdentures. MATERIALS Ten completely edentulous patients were selected for replacement with dental implants. Each patient received 2 (press-fit) dental implants, 1 implant on each side in the canine regions of the mandible. The implants were left submerged (unloaded) for a healing osseointegration period of 4 months. The patients were divided into 2 groups, 5 patients in each. Group I patients received maxillary conventional dentures and a mandibular overdenture retained by a cast bar. Group II patients received a maxillary conventional denture and a mandibular overdenture retained by a prefabricated bar. All patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically immediately after overdenture delivery and after 6, 12, and 18 months. RESULTS There was more pronounced bone resorption in cast bar group more than the prefabricated bar group and minimal marginal bone loss in the group treated with prefabricated bar. CONCLUSION The prefabricated bar overdentures showed less bone resorption distal to the implants in comparison with the cast bar implant-retained overdentures, Both the gingival index and the plaque index score were significantly higher in the group treated with the cast bar retained overdenture. The prefabricated bar implant-retained overdenture showed low significant reduction in the bone height after 1 year, and a very highly significant reduction after 18 months.