Purpose: To evaluate the microbial flora in peri-implant sulcular fluid of edentulous patients rehabilitated with ball and socket and locator retained mandibular 2-implant overdentures.
Materials and Methods: 14 edentulous patients were recruited to receive two mandibular implant overdentures and new conventional maxillary complete dentures. Mandibular implant overdentures (MIODs) were retained either by locator or ball attachment systems in random order. After 6 months of function, the attachment systems in the existing dentures were replaced with the other type of attachment. The prevalence of streptococci and staphylococci species (spp.) was analyzedusing blood-agar media at 3, 6 and 9 weeks after pick-up of attachments. The data was then collected, tabulated and statistically analyzed using SPSS.
Results: No significant difference was found in bacterial count of either Streptococcus or Staphylococcus spp. between two attachment systems (Ball and socket, Locator) at any of the evaluated time intervals with P-value > 0.05
Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that there is no difference in microbial flora between the two attachment systems. It can also be suggested that the locator attachments are valid treatment alternative for ball abutments to retain mandibular 2-implant overdentures from a biological point of view.