Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effect of ball and socket and bar-clip attachments in implant-retained complete mandibular thermoplastic overdenture on biting force.
Subjects and Methods: Ten completely edentulous patients divided into two groups : Group I (n= 5) was treated with two implant retained thermoplastic overdenture with ball and socket attachment system then after 3 months the ball attachment was replaced by custom made bar. Group II ( n= 5 ) was treated with two implant retained thermoplastic overdenture with custom made bar attachment system then after 3 months the bar was replaced by ball and socket . The maximum bite force measurements were recorded for each patient using occlusal force meter device: at insertion, after 1 month and after 3 months for each attachment.
Results: The maximum bite force measures were higher for bar- clip attachments than ball and socket attachments but still statistically of non-significant difference between the treatment modalities.
Conclusion: The thermoplastic mandibular implant retained overdenture with the bar-clip might be selected over the ball and socket attachment in cases of two implant retained mandibular overdenture, because it has more sufficient biting force values.


Keywords: ball and socket, bar-clip, overdenture, biting force, thermoplastic overdenture.