Abstract
In order to compare an overdenture with a bone-anchored full bridge clinically, a prosthetic appliance was applied respectively to two patients who have an edentulous mandible with some implants. As for investigative items, for the operation period, the method of inserting and removing their prosthesis, their recovery, repair of the prosthesis, their food intake after wearing the prosthesis, plaques growing on the prosthesis and measures to clean,the cost of procedures, and their clinical outcome were observed.
Integral Implant (Calcitek Inc., U.S.A.) of 3.25 mm diameter and 8 mm or 10 mm in length, which was inserted in the usual manner into the mandible under infiltration anesthesia, was used.
The results were as follows.
The patients could eat food easier after the implant operation than before the operation both in case 1 (overdenture) and in case 2 (bone-anchored full bridge), having achieved better occlusion.
The operation period of case 1 was almost one-third of that of case 2.
The patient himself inserted and removed the prosthetic appliance in case 1, while the operator inserted and removed it in case 2.
Both of the patients recovered in seven months by using a temporary denture.
The cost of case 1 was about one-third of that of case 2.
Since the working models and temporary denture of cases 1 and 2 remain with us, the prosthetic appliances are relatively easy to repair.
The prosthetic appliance is removable in case 1, hence it can be kept cleaner than that of case 2.
