Authors : Ehab A. ElsaihMohamed A. Saad Aldeen
Volume : 59
Issue : 1
Year : 2013
Page No : 31-40
ABSTRACT Background: metal bar splinted implants provide overdenture with good support and retentive quality. Besides, it is known to preserve marginal bone of corresponding dental implants. Reinforced composite bars offer less cost, time preserve, easy to construct and repair alternative. Objective: Till now there is no clear research data comparing reinforced composite bar modality to conventional metal splinting in terms of implant marginal bone height changes. Material and methods: twelve edentulous male patients were selected and assigned into two equal groups using balanced randomization. All patients received lower implant supported overdenture with either cast bar (group I) or infibra ribbon bar (group II). Radiographic evaluations were performed at the time of overdenture insertion then at 6, 12 and 18 months after overdenture insertion. Results: The results were significant for all periods of study. (P=.006*, .039* and .000* for each period respectively) for group I compared to group II. Conclusion: Within the limitation of this short clinical study it could be concluded that; mandibular two implant retained overdenture splinted with infibra ribbon bar reduces stress concentration in implant marginal bone compared to cast bar. As a consequence, bone level is better preserved, and implant survival is expected to be improved if all other clinical conditions were constant.