Purpose: This invitro study evaluates peri-implant strains with ball and telescopic attachments for implant supported maxillary overdentures.
Materials and methods: A model represent an edentulous maxillary ridge with 4 implants installed at both canine and second premolar areas was constructed. Experimental maxillary overdentures were fabricated and attached to the implants with rigid telescopic (TA, n=5), and ball (BA, n=5) attachments. Two strain gauges were bonded to the acrylic resin at buccal and palatal surfaces of each implant. Strains were measured during unilateral load application on the 1st molar region of the right (loading) side. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare microstrains between groups (TA, and BA), implant positions (canine and premolar implants) and strain gauge positions (buccal and palatal gauges on right and left sides).
Results: For all strain gauge positions of canine and premolar implants, TA showed significant higher microstrain than BA. For both groups, palatal loading side showed the highest microstrain for canine implants, and buccal loading side showed the highest microstrain for premolar implants. For palatal gauges on both sides, canine implants recorded significant higher strain than premolar implants. For buccal gauges on both sides, premolar implants recorded significant higher strain than canine implants.
Conclusion: Within limitation of this invitro study, it could be concluded that, ball attachments are recommended to retain maxillary implant overdenture than telescopic attachments as it were associated with reduced peri-implant strain.