The purpose of this study was to evaluate, for both genders and two elderly age groups, differences in lightness, chroma, and hue of pairs of natural anterior teeth, so that more accurate information on color would be available for the production of dentures with a natural appearance. The subjects in the younger group (YG) were 54 to 56 years of age, those in the older group 73 to 75 (N = 195, 48% women). Tooth color was measured using a spectrophotometer. Mixed models were calculated for each pair of teeth, with gender as a fixed factor. Gender did not have a significant effect in either age group. In both groups, differences in chroma between upper canines and lateral incisors and in lightness and hue between upper and lower canines were observed. In the YG, additional differences were found, with the only exception of the comparison between upper central and lateral incisors. The nongender-specific color differences observed should be considered when producing denture teeth for these groups of patients, in order to come as close as possible to the natural color ideal.

Within the limitations of this study, results from immediate loading of two implants in the edentulous mandible with either Locator or bar attachments hardly differed. Prosthetic complications and aftercare measures in the Locator group were frequent but easy to handle. Ease of repair and cleaning, in particular, might be reasons for choosing the single-attachment system.

The described method is feasible and appropriate for the measurement of masticatory performance of denture wearers.

The subjective evaluation does not adequately reflect functional improvements. The assessment of function requires an adaptation period.

It can be concluded that simultaneous bone-augmentation techniques slightly reduce short-term prognosis for dental implants. This effect was more pronounced when advanced defects required the combination of several augmentation procedures.