.Purpose: To evaluate the impact of locator attachments with different retentive insert materials on bite force in mandibular
implant overdenture.
Materials and Methods: Eight completely edentulous patients were selected for this study. Each patient received two implants
in the canine area of the mandible bilaterally. Patient grouping was performed as follow, group Ι: 4 patients received two locator
overdenture attachments with nylon inserts, group ΙΙ: 4 patients received two locator overdenture attachments with PEEK
inserts. The bite force was measured with conventional complete denture, after 3 months of overdenture insertion and after 6
months using occlusal force transducer. The surface wear evaluation of PEEK and nylon inserts were done before pick-up, after
3 months and after 6 months of overdenture insertion using scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Results: There was significant difference between groupI(nylon insert) and groupII (PEEK insert).Overdentures loaded
with PEEK inserts recorded significant increase in bite force values than nylon inserts after 3 months and 6 months of
overdenture insertion(P<0.001). Significant wear changes were shown with nylon inserts at (T3) and (T6) rather than PEEK
inserts(P<0.001).
Conclusion:PEEK inserts in locator attachments provide successful inserts instead of nylon ones providing better biteforce and
wear resistence