Patient-based outcomes with conventional or mini-implants immediately loaded with locator-retained mandibular overdentures: A cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known on the effect of varying implant diameters, especially with mini implants (ie, less than 3 mm in diameter), on oral health-related quality of life (OHrQoL). PURPOSE: To compare OHrQoL and satisfaction in patients with mandibular overdentures immediately retained by either two conventional or two mini-implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Edentulous patients receiving immediately loaded overdentures retained by Locators on either two conventional diameter (4.1 mm) or two mini (2.9 mm or less) implants were selected based on available buccal-lingual ridge width in the intraforaminal area. Two questionnaires were used (Oral Health Impact Profile-14 [OHIP-14]; and Denture Satisfaction Questionnaire [DSQ]) to determine OHrQoL and overall denture satisfaction. Questionnaires were filled out at six different time points up to a 1-year follow-up. Mann-Whitney U test was used for group comparisons. Friedman and Wilcoxon tests were used to identify changes within group along the time points. Correlation between OHIP-14 and DSQ was assessed with Spearman test. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients were analyzed and equally distributed to each group. The conventional group presented a significantly smaller change of OHIP functional score from the baseline to the first week of follow-up after surgery (P = .017). In addition, total DSQ scores were significantly higher for the conventional group at 12 weeks (P = .022) and there was a significant difference between groups in satisfaction with mandibular prosthesis at 24 weeks (P = .034). Correlation between OHIP-14 and DSQ was not significant (P > .05). Individual results of each group (ie, within group analysis) over all assessed time points revealed a significant OHrQoL (P = .001 for conventional, P = .006 for mini-implants) and satisfaction (P < .001 for both groups) improvement in both groups. CONCLUSION: Mandibular overdentures retained by two conventional or mini-implants lead to a significant and comparable improvements in OHrQoL and satisfaction over a 1-year follow-up.