The purpose of the present study was to evaluate radiographically (the crestal bone level change) and clinically (gingival crevicular fluid and implant stability) in cases with four implants supporting mandibular fixed detachable prostheses versus telescopic overdenture.
Methodology: Twenty completely edentulous patients were treated with four interforaminal implants to support either fixed detachable prostheses with distal cantilevers or telescopic overdenture. The peri-implant marginal bone loss was assessed radiographically at distal surface of posterior implant bilaterally was calculated in two different intervals. The first interval (0-6months) and the second interval (0-12months) using a digital panoramic imaging system. Also clinical evaluation for checking the implant stability using the perio-test and measuring the gingival crevicular fluid.
Results: Regarding the gingival crevicular fluid, the comparison between both groups at the time of delivery and after 6 months, there was no significant difference between the two groups. But there was a significant difference after 12 months. From the obtained data of periotest, it was recognized that there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the implant stability. But there was a significant difference within each group at the different follow-up periods. The data of marginal bone loss at the distal surface of posterior implant on both sides revealed that there was a significant difference between the two groups at the 1st and 2nd intervals.
Conclusion: Both telescopic overdenture and fixed detachable prostheses considered a viable successful treatment option for rehabilitating completely edentulous cases. Telescopic overdentures showed less crestal bone loss at the distal implants than that with the fixed detachable design. The gingival crevicular fluid decreases gradually throughout the study period in both designs denoting successful oral hygiene measurements.