Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Patient Satisfaction, Retention and Maintenance of Repaired midline fracture Implant Retained Mandibular Overdentures by different methods of repair: a) Direct re-assembly of the denture b) Reinforcement of the fitting surface with a metal framework.
Materials and methods: 45 completely edentulous patients seeking for implant installation in the mandible were included in this study. All patients had received single midline implant & a stud attachment; 3-4 months after implant installation. Patients were rehabilitated with implant retained overdentures. Bone height changes, retention and patient satisfaction were evaluated at regular recall visits for one year. 14 patients had reported midline fracture of their mandibular overdentures at the follow up period from 3 to 6 months. The 14 patients were randomly divided in two groups; Group (a): Included seven patients had the fractured denture repaired by direct reassembly using self- cured acrylic resin. Group (b): Included seven patients; had the fractured denture reinforced with a metal framework embedded in the fitting surface of the denture. Patient satisfaction, overdenture retention, and prosthetic maintenance were assessed after dentures repair for patients of the two groups. Evaluation was carried-out at the day of dentures insertion after repair, 2 weeks, 3 months and 1 year after dentures' repair
Results: The results of this study had revealed that Group (b) patients rehabilitated with (Dentures repaired by Reinforcing metal framework) had reported significant improvement in the patients satisfaction, significant decrease in the prosthetic maintenance required after 1 year follow-up compared to patients of Group:(a) patient rehabilitated with (Dentures repaired with direct reassembly using self cure acrylic resin). After 1 year follow up, there was no significant difference in the mean values of retention in both studied groups.
Conclusions: Within the limitations of the present study; the following conclusions may be achieved: For a single implant retained mandibular overdenture, midline fracture may better repaired by reinforcement of denture base with a metal framework embedded in the fitting surface of the denture. Metal reinforcement may increase the rigidity of the overdenture, improve the patient satisfaction and may decrease the number of visits required for maintenance.