Chairside assessment of implant-retained overdenture retention

Edentulous patients are demanding higher levels of comfort and functionality, and are looking to implant-retained overdentures to provide stability. However, all components experience wear through use and it can sometimes be difficult to identify whether the wear has occurred to the attachment or the retainer. Accurately diagnosing the cause of the loss of retention is important from a patient satisfaction and financial viewpoint. This simple diagnostic method for assessment of the wear of an implant-retained overdenture using an analogue of a ball abutment will reduce perceived levels of complexity of routine maintenance treatments.

The prevalence of edentulism continues to fall in western society. Between 1998 and 2009, the overall level of edentulism has more than halved from 13% to 6%, demonstrating that this is a current and relevant changing pattern in oral health status within the population.¹

Implant-retained overdentures rely on both the denture-bearing area and the implants for support and retention. Maxillary dentures are commonly supported by four or six implants,² whilst mandibular dentures more usually may only have two implants.^3,4 Commonly, ball or bar abutments are attached to the implants, and clips or ‘O’-ring matrices are embedded into the fitting surface of the denture.