Bite Force Comparison of Implant-retained Mandibular Overdentures with Conventional Complete Dentures: An in vivo Study

Patients wearing conventional dentures often complain about the instability of the prosthesis, particularly the mandibular denture. Denture instability leads to feeling of insecurity, inefficient mastication, and overall dissatisfaction with the prosthesis. Implant-retained dentures have been developed and studied as a method for solving the problem of instability associated with conventional dentures. Ten edentulous patients of age group 60 to 70 years were selected to participate in within subject cross over clinical trial. Complete dentures were fabricated which were later converted to implant retained overdentures. Presurgical dentascan was done with the surgical stent. The bite force measurements taken with conventional dentures and the implant supported dentures after 4 and 16 weeks of prosthetic loading of the implants. Patient’s opinions were assessed by means of questionnaires with precoded response categories. The results obtained in study showed that there was statistical increase in the maximum bite force of the conventional dentures from patients without dentures and for implant retained mandibular overdentures in comparison to conventional dentures. The percentage of patients satisfied with their conventional dentures in general was about 20%, and almost all patients were not satisfied with mandibular conventional denture. Compared to 45% patients satisfied with implant retained mandibular overdenture in general whereas almost all the patient’s were satisfied with the retention and speech of their implant retained mandibular overdenture dentures.