Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the functional properties of attachments for implant overdentures in vitro.
Materials and methods: A mandibular model with two implant replicas in the left and right canines and with pseudo mucous membrane was fabricated. Five types of attachment, which were a magnetic attachment (dome type, flat type, and self-adjusting type, Aichi Steel Corporation, Aichi, Japan), an anchor-type attachment (locator attachment, Zest Anchors Inc., USA), and a ball attachment (DalRo, Biomet 3i, USA), were attached to the model and denture and compared in this research. Lateral forces were measured with strain gauges attached to the implant while a vertical force of 49 N was applied to the occlusal surface.
Result: Mean lateral forces were 0.8 N in the flattype magnetic attachment, 0.6 N in the dome-type magnetic attachment, 0.25 N in the self-adjusting-type magnetic attachment, 0.56 N in the locator attachment, and 1.8 N in the ball attachment.
Conclusion: The functional properties of attachments for implant overdentures varied among the attachments and the self-adjusting-type magnetic attachment had a highly attenuating effect on the lateral force in the implant.
