Masticatory outcomes with mandibular overdentures

Researchers have evaluated masticatory performance in patients with mandibular implant-retained overdentures.

In a study published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, the researchers enrolled 20 patients aged 51 to 84 years with complete edentulism, who received new bimaxillary complete dentures. They then measured their baseline masticatory performance and randomly assigned patients to an experimental group receiving two intra-foraminal regular implants and two extra-short posterior implants or a control group receiving either two intra-foraminal regular implants alone. The implants were splinted after four months, and the patients received new mandibular implant-retained overdentures with bar/clip retention.

After reassessment at six, 12 and 48 months, the researchers discovered that the mandibular implant-retained overdentures improved masticatory performance and swallowing thresholds in both the experimental and control groups. They noted that the number of implants and the use of posterior implants did not appear to significantly influence masticatory function.

The findings indicated that mandibular implant-retained overdentures may offer greater oral function compared with complete dentures.

Read more: Journal of Oral Rehabilitation

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