The Extent of Maintenance Required by Implant-Retained Mandibular Overdentures: A 3-Year Report

Astra Tech implants were used to support implant-retained mandibular overdentures for 25 edentulous patients (12 with magnet retention and 13 with stud retention). The patients were followed for 3 years, and a detailed record was kept of the extent of maintenance required after placement of the dentures. There were 64 episodes of maintenance related to the overdentures in the magnet retention group and 63 episodes of maintenance in the stud retention group. Episodic maintenance was greatest during the first year, with the magnet group having 30 episodes and the stud group 34. The number of visits required for maintenance related to both the maxillary and mandibular dentures was 117 for the magnet retention group and 86 for the stud retention group. There was no statistically significant difference in the amount of postplacement care between the two groups. Keywords: implant, magnet, mandibular overdenture, stud