Structure and Characteristics of Magnetic Attachments

Abstract

Clinical dental prostheses utilizing magnets have been reported since the 1950's. Nonetheless, the devices of that time had various problems and did not achieve widespread use. However, their use in the oral cavity became practical with the invention of samarium cobalt magnets, which possessed excellent magnetic properties. In recent years small, high quality magnetic attachments have been developed as denture support apparatuses. Among these, magnetic attachments that others and I use were made practical by Takanobu Tanaka in 1992.
Unlike conventional retainers, magnetic attachments are special devices that support the denture by the force of magnetic attraction. Therefore, although they have several advantageous points, they have various problems depending on how they are used. While touching on their construction and characteristics, we would like to discuss overdentures, where the authors and others have often used magnetic attachments.