Evaluation of Bone Height Changes In Three Implants Retained Mandibular Overdenture Using Three Different Attachment Design. A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Twenty-four completely edentulous patients were recruited from the outpatient clinic of Removable Prosthodontics Cairo University. All patients recruited were seeking to install implants in their lower jaw, and have to meet the following inclusion criteria: age ranging from 50 to 69 years old, patients should have no contra-indication for implant installation, all patients should perform a glycosylated hemoglobin analysis and only up to 8 were included in the study. All patients had to sign an informed consent before the start of the study, and have to comply with the assigned follow-ups. Patients with any contraindications for implant placement or those who didn't comply with the follow ups were excluded from the study.

All patients included had maxillary and mandibular complete dentures fabricated following the conventional steps, after a period of 6 weeks adaptation, all patients were ready for implant installation. The lower denture was duplicated into a radiographic stent, having radio-opaque markers in the areas of implant installation. All patients had a CBCT x ray wearing the radiographic stent, to allow for proper implant planning and to visualize the height and width of the osteotomy site. The radiographic stent was then modified to a surgical stent by making a tunnel corresponding to the site of implant installation. All Patients in this study received three implants in the lower jaw at the premolar-canine area bilaterally and one implant in the midline at the central incisor area.