Objectives: to compare between the microstrains transmitted to the implants with magnetic and OLS attachments in 2-implant overdentures.
Methodology: two dummy implants 3.7 mm in diameter and 12mm in length were placed in an acrylic resin model resembling a completely edentulous mandible. Attachment pick up was done for the magnetic attachment followed by loading and measurement. Four Strain gauges were used to measure microstrains around the implants during unilateral and bilateral loading using a universal testing machine and a multi-channel strain meter. The procedure was repeated for the OLS attachment. Measurements were tabulated and statistically analyzed.
Results: loading sides demonstrated significantly higher microstrains around the implants with the two attachments than non-loading sides. OLS attachment showed significantly higher microstrains than magnetic attachment for both loading and non-loading sides during unilateral loading. During bilateral loading, there was no significant difference between the two attachments.
Conclusion: implant overdentures retained by magnetic attachments transmit less stresses to the implants than OLS attachments with PEEK retentive matrices during unilateral loading. During bilateral loading, the stresses transmitted by the two attachments were comparable.