PURPOSEThe aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical findings and patient satisfaction on implant overdenture designed with Locator implant attachment or Locator bar attachment in mandibular edentulous patients.MATERIALS AND METHODSImplant survival rate, marginal bone loss, probing depth, peri-implant inflammation, bleeding, plaque, calculus, complications, and satisfaction were evaluated on sixteen patients who were treated with mandibular overdenture and have used it for at least 1 year (Locator implant attachment: n=8, Locator bar attachment: n=8).RESULTSMarginal bone loss, probing depth, plaque index of the Locator bar attachment group were significantly lower than the Locator implant attachment group (P<.05). There was no significant difference on bleeding, peri-implant inflammation, and patient satisfaction between the two denture types (P>.05). The replacement of the attachment components was the most common complication in both groups. Although there was no correlation between marginal bone loss and plaque index, a significant correlation was found between marginal bone loss and probing depth.CONCLUSIONThe Locator bar attachment group indicates lesser marginal bone loss and need for maintenance, as compared with the Locator implant attachment group. This may be due to the splinting effect among implants rather than the types of Locator attachment.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the bone regeneration efficiency of two-layer porcine-derived bone scaffolds composed of cancellous and cortical bones in a rabbit calvarial defect model. Four circular calvaria defects were formed on cranium of rabbit and were filled with block bone scaffolds of each group: cortical bone block (Cortical group), cancellous bone block (Cancellous group), and two-layer bone block (2layer group). After 8 weeks, new bones were primarily observed in cancellous parts of the Cancellous and 2layer groups, while the Cortical group exhibited few new bones. In the results of new bone volume and area analyses, the Cancellous group showed the highest value, followed by the 2layer group, and were significantly higher than the Cortical group. Within the limitations of this study, the cancellous and two-layer porcine-derived bone scaffolds showed satisfactory bone regeneration efficiency; further studies on regulating the ratio of cortical and cancellous bones in two-layer bones are needed.

임플란트 피개의치를 위한 어태치먼트에는 식립된 임플란 트의 연결여부에 따라 solitary type과 bar type으로 구분할 수 있다. Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of KoreaImplant overdenture exhibits higher retention, masticatory function, and patient's satisfaction compared to conventional dentures. Particularly, in treatment of severe alveolar bone resorption, implant overdenture can be considered as the first treatment option. The types of attachments used for implant overdenture can be classified into solitary type, which implants are not connected to each other, and bar type in which implants are connected. In the case of solitary type commonly used in clinical practice, parallel relationship is important. When it is not established, there is a higher risk of attachment wear, retention loss, and frequent visits for maintenance. In this case, satisfactory results have been obtained with implant overdentures using milled bar on two unparallel implants placed on the mandible. (J Korean Acad Prosthodont 2016;54:401-6)