Purpose: This short term randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate crestal bone loss and patient satisfaction of ball and socket and O-ring attachments used to retain single implant-retained mandibular overdenture after one year.
Materials and methods: Twelve completely edentulous patients received single implant in the midline of the mandible. Three months later, the patients were randomly assigned into two groups; Group 1 (control group); six patients their mandibular dentures were connected to the implant using ball and socket attachment. Group 2 (test group); included six patients their mandibular dentures were connected to the implant using O/ring attachment. The peri-implant crestal bone loss was evaluated at mesial, distal, buccal and lingual aspects of each implant using cone beam computerized tomography made at baseline, 6 and 12 months later. Patient satisfaction was evaluated using questionnaire of visual Analogue Scales (VAS) six months after loading.
Results: The implant survival rate was 100% in both groups. Ball and socket attachment recorded significant higher crestal bone loss than O-ring attachment after 6 months (p=.031) and 12 months (p=.021). Ball and socket attachment recorded significant higher patient satisfaction than O/ring attachment.
Conclusion: O/ring attachment is recommended than ball and socket attachment for single implant mandibular overdentures in term of peri-implant bone preservation. However, ball and socket attachment was associated with significant higher patient satisfaction than O/ring attachment.