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Space requirement of a prefabricated bar on two interforaminal implants: a prospective clinical study
Author(s) -
Albrecht Dominic,
Ramierez Ami,
Kremer Urs,
Katsoulis Joannis,
MericskeStern Regina,
Enkling Norbert
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
clinical oral implants research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.407
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1600-0501
pISSN - 0905-7161
DOI - 10.1111/clr.12304
Subject(s) - dentures , medicine , dentistry , dental prosthesis , patient satisfaction , orthodontics , implant , surgery
Objectives This clinical study measured the dimensional changes of existing lower complete dentures due to the integration of a prefabricated implant bar. Additionally, the impact of this dimensional change on patient satisfaction and oral function was analyzed. Methods Twenty edentulous patients (10 men/10 women; aged 65.9 ± 11.8 years) received two interforaminal implants. Subsequent to surgery, a chair side adapted, prefabricated bar ( SFI Bar ® , C+M, Biel, Switzerland) was inserted, and the matrix was polymerized into the existing lower denture. The change of the denture's lingual dimension was recorded by means of a bicolored, silicone denture duplicate that was sectioned in the oro‐vestibular direction in the regions of the symphysis (S) and the implants (I‐left, I‐right). On the sections, the dimensional increase was measured using a light microscope. Six months after bar insertion, patients answered a standardized questionnaire. Results All dentures exhibited increased lingual volume, more extensively at S than at I ( P = 0.001). At S, the median diagonal size of the denture was doubled (+4.33 mm), and at I, the median increase was 50% (I‐left/‐right = +2.66/+2.62 mm). The original denture size influenced the volume increase ( P = 0.024): smaller dentures led to a larger increase. The amount of denture increase did not have negative impact on either self‐perceived oral function or patient satisfaction. Approximately, 95% of the patients were satisfied with the treatment results. Conclusions The lingual size of a lower denture was enlarged by the integration of a prefabricated bar without any negative side effects. Thus, this attachment system is suitable to convert an existing full denture into an implant‐supported overdenture.