Background Only a few studies have dealt with immediately loaded, unsplinted miniimplants supporting ball attachment‐retained mandibular overdentures (ODs). The aim of this study was to evaluate treatment outcomes of ball attachment‐retained mandibular ODs supported by one‐piece, unsplinted, immediately loaded, direct metal laser sintering (DMLS)

mini‐implants.

Methods Over a 4‐year period (2009‐2012), all patients referred to the Dental Clinic, University of Varese, and to a private practice for treatment with mandibular ODs were considered for inclusion in this study. Each patient received three or four DMLS miniimplants. Immediately after implant placement, a mandibular OD was connected to the implants. At each annual follow‐up session, clinical and radiographic parameters wereassessed: the outcome measures were implant failures, peri‐implant marginal bone loss, and complications. Statistical analysis was conducted using a life‐table analysis.

Results A total of 231 one‐piece DMLS mini‐implants were inserted in 62 patients. After four years of loading, six implants failed, giving an overall cumulative survival rate of 96.9%. The mean distance between the implant shoulder and the first visible bone‐to‐implant contact (DIB) was 0.38 mm (± 0.25) and 0.62 mm (± 0.20) at the 1‐ and 4 ‐year follow‐up examinations, respectively. An incidence of 6.0% of biological complications was reported;prosthetic complications were more frequent (12.9%).

Conclusion Within the limits of this study, it can be concluded that the immediate loading ofone‐piece, unsplinted, DMLS titanium mini‐implants by means of ball attachment‐supported mandibular ODs is a successful treatment procedure. Long‐term follow‐up studies are needed to confirm these results.

PMID:25272979 PubMed - in process