Patient satisfaction with different types of implant-retained overdentures in the edentate mandible

The purpose of this study was to determine patient satisfaction with implant supported mandibular overdentures using magnet, bar-clip and ball-socket attachments, and to assess the relation between maximum bite force and patient satisfaction. In a crossover clinical trial, 18 edentulous patients with lower denture complaints received 2 mandibular implants and new lower and upper dentures. The lower denture initially came without any kind of attachment system, but was fitted with one of the attachment types after 3 months. The attachments were changed 3 months thereafter, in random order. A questionnaire concerning denture complaints was given at baseline (with the old denture), after 3 months of functioning with the new denture without attachments and after 3 months of functioning with each of the attachments (within-subject comparison). In addition, at the end of the experiment patients were asked to express their overall satisfaction with their dentures on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Data regarding maximum bite force were obtained from a previous study with the same population. Mandibular implant supported overdenture treatment reduced various denture complaints. The VAS score reflected patients' preference more accurately than scale-scores. Patients strongly preferred bar-clip (10 subjects) and ball-socket attachments (7 subjects) over magnet attachments (1 subject). Patients' preference could not be predicted on the basis of baseline observations. Maximum bite force was not correlated to scale- or VAS scores.