[Evaluation of the 5-year clinical restoration effect of implants retained complete overdentures with Locator attachments in 48 patients].

PURPOSE: To observe the long-term clinical effect of implants retained complete overdentures with Locator attachments.

METHODS: A total of 48 patients with edentulous jaws treated with implants retained complete overdentures with Locator attachments were selected from the Outpatient Department of Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from 2016 to 2017. Among them, 21 patients underwent double-maxillary complete overdentures restoration and 27 patients underwent single-maxillary restoration. A total of 230 implants were implanted. The clinical observation indicators included the implant survival rate, peri-implant mucosal bleeding on probing(BOP), the change in the vertical height of alveolar bone absorption around the implants, overdenture base fracture rate, artificial tooth fall off and fracture rate and other complications. The change of the locator attachment retention force of the implant-supported overdentures was evaluated. SPSS 13.0 software package was used for data analysis.

RESULTS: During the five-years clinical observation period, 5 implants fell off, 1 narrow dimeter implant in the anterior zone was broken, and 12 implants were lost to follow-up. The implant survival rate was 97.25%. One year after the restoration therapy finished, peri-implant mucosal bleeding on probing (BOP+) was detected in 48 (21.4%) implants. The average BI was 0.21±0.42, which was higher in the anterior zone than that in the posterior zone. The vertical alveolar bone absorption height around the implants was (0.21±0.35) mm, 2 implants-supported complete overdenture bases were broken. After 5 years of restoration, 163(76.89%) implants had peri-implant mucosal bleeding on probing(BOP+). The average BI was 1.00±0.70, and the vertical alveolar bone absorption height around the implants was (0.58±0.85) mm. There was no significant difference between males and females. There was no significant difference in the peri-implant mucosal bleeding index and the alveolar bone vertical absorption height between the anterior zone and the posterior zone(P＞0.05). The mean BI of peri-implant mucosa and the vertical absorption height of peri-implant alveolar bone were significantly different between the 1-year observation period and the 5-year observation period respectively(P＜0.01). There were 17(26.15%) cases with overdenture bases fracture, and the fracture rate of artificial teeth was 16.92%. Most of them occurred in the midline area of the anterior zone and the location of the overdenture base on the locator attachments. The average first replacement time of the locator attachment nylon retainer washer was 34.2±10.3 months.

CONCLUSIONS: Implants retained complete overdentures with Locator attachments are effective in long term clinical observation. Complications are mainly found in peri-implant mucosal bleeding on probing and vertical alveolar bone absorption, and tended to increase gradually over time. The fracture of the implant retains complete overdenture bases and the fall off or fracture of the artificial teeth are the second serious complications. Overdenture base with metal frame at the location of the Locator abutment and the midline of the anterior area should be strengthened, and narrow diameter implants should be avoided as far as possible in the anterior zone.