Purpose: The study was conducted to clinically evaluate and compare splinted and unsplinted four short implants used to support mandibular overdentures in cases with atrophic mandible.
Materials and Methods: A prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in which a total of 48 short implants (5.5mm in length and 5mm in diameter) were inserted in 12 completely edentulous male subjects using a flapless surgical approach with the aid of a partially guided CAD-CAM surgical guides. Subjects were equally allocated into a test group A where patients' implants (n = 24) kept unsplinted with ball and socket attachments and a control group B in which patients' implants
(n = 24) were splinted with a customized bar with ball attachments for retaining the mandibular overdenture following the delayed loading protocol. Clinical parameters including peri-implant probing depth (PIPD) and modified gingival index (MGI) were evaluated at time of prosthetic loading (baseline), 3, 6, and 12 month intervals.
Results: By the end of 12 month, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding PIPD and MGI values (P =.038,.004) respectively.
Conclusion: For atrophic mandibles, the use of four unsplinted short implants is a predictable alternative to splinted ones to retain a mandibular overdenture.