Background/aim: The use of mini-implants and short implants have increased recently for treatments of patients with atrophic ridges or to over the anatomic limitationof implant insertion. However, the clinical effectiveness of short implants versus conventional implants or mini-implants was not fullyconsidered. Therefore, the aim of this research was to assess the marginal bone loss around short implants, mini-implants and conventional implants radiographically.Materials and Methods:twenty-one completely edentulous patients were randomly categorized into three groups according to the type and distribution of dental implants inserted into the mandible. Group I: received 4 mini dental implants, Group II: received,two conventional implants in the interforaminal area, while Group III: received 2 mini dental implants in the lateral incisor/ canine area and 2 wide short implants in the first molar area.Marginal bone loss was assessed around the dental implants by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) at denture insertion, after 6 and 12 months. Data was collected and statistical analysed by One Way ANOVA followed by Tukey`s Post Hoc test. TheSignificant difference was set at P<0.05.
Results:Bone loss in all groups showed a significant difference in all time intervals as P<0.05. In the time interval from denture insertion to -6 months, group III showed significant least amount of bone loss. While group I and II showed an insignificant difference of bone loss
Conclusion:The overdentures retained by two mini-implants anteriorly and two short dental implants posteriorly are successful treatment option with the least amount of bone loss when compared to 4 mini-implants overdenture or two conventional implants restoring a completely edentulous mandible.Clinical Significance: To know the most appropriate line of treatment with different implant diameter and distribution in completely edentulous mandible.