Impact of Locator Attachments with Different Retentive Insert Materials on Bite Force in Mandibular Implant Overdenture

Abstract

.Purpose: To evaluate the impact of locator attachments with different retentive insert materials on bite force in mandibularimplant overdenture.Materials and Methods: Eight completely edentulous patients were selected for this study. Each patient received two implantsin the canine area of the mandible bilaterally. Patient grouping was performed as follow, group Ι: 4 patients received two locatoroverdenture attachments with nylon inserts, group ΙΙ: 4 patients received two locator overdenture attachments with PEEKinserts. The bite force was measured with conventional complete denture, after 3 months of overdenture insertion and after 6months using occlusal force transducer. The surface wear evaluation of PEEK and nylon inserts were done before pick-up, after3 months and after 6 months of overdenture insertion using scanning electron microscope (SEM).Results: There was significant difference between groupI(nylon insert) and groupII (PEEK insert).Overdentures loadedwith PEEK inserts recorded significant increase in bite force values than nylon inserts after 3 months and 6 months ofoverdenture insertion(P<0.001). Significant wear changes were shown with nylon inserts at (T3) and (T6) rather than PEEKinserts(P<0.001).Conclusion:PEEK inserts in locator attachments provide successful inserts instead of nylon ones providing better biteforce andwear resistence