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Is One Implant Enough to Retain the Overdenture?

posted in Restoration of Dental Implants, Implant Supported Overdentures, advice

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Dr. P. asks:
I have been restoring implant retained overdentures for about 10 years. I am very conservative and have been using 2-4 implants with attachments for mandibular overdentures. I recently attended a course where for the first time I learned about using one implant with an attachment to retain a mandibular overdenture. The implant is placed in the mandibular symphysis area and you can use a Locator or ERA or ball attachment. The ball is preferred because it allows universal movement. Have any of you done this kind of procedure? Is one implant enough to retain the overdenture?

8 Responses to “ Is One Implant Enough to Retain the Overdenture? ”

• Alejandro Berg January 5th, 2010

  
  

  The “social” implant started many years ago in Italy and had some statistical success….. Id say dont. But that is just me.

• Marco T. Padilla, DMD, MS January 5th, 2010

  
  

  I personally have not treated patients with a single implant to retain a mandibular overdenture. However, this treatment option has been reported in the literature by Drs. G.L. Liddelow and Patrick Henry from Australia (1 year preliminary report)published on the JPD of June 2007, Issue 6, supplement, pages S126-S137 and by the italians leaded by Giampiero Cordioli in their report of a 5 years prospective study, also published on the JPD, August 1997. Vol 78. Issue 2. Pages 159-165. Both articles state the use of ball attachments and “O”rings. Their conclusion is basically a succesful and reliable option, simple and less expensive for both patient and dentist.

• Marco T. Padilla, DMD, MS January 5th, 2010

  
  

  Correction:

  In my previous comment there is a misspelling: it is suppose to be lead instead of leaded.
  Thank you.

• SimpleDoc January 6th, 2010

  
  

  I believe that the ball type attachments allows for universal movement in all planes around the ball. I believe this is the only kind of attachment for any overdenture that allows this much freedom of rotation and vertical resiliency.

• Dr.med. Dr. dent Alessandro Romano Italy January 7th, 2010

  
  

  i think it is avery good idea to proove this kind of solution.

  till now i executed my mobile overdentures in mandibula with a weight of 25-30 grs to ensure the best stability.

• MIchael Katsev DDS January 10th, 2010

  
  

  I have restored many overdentures with two locators placed on implants and also locators placed on endo treated roots. I have had great results. I have also restored on four implants with locators and really have had more trouble with the four implant cases. I have also have had a few that I restored on one locator and it works but my “gold” standard is on two locators. My patients tell me when we are done….”I wish my upper denture fit like my lower denture” That’s all I needed to hear.

• Dr. Gerald Rudick January 12th, 2010

  
  

  In earlier years, pre implant dentistry, we would take advantage of two remaininjg lower canines…..cut off the crowns, treat them endodontically, and cement cast gold posts with Ceka attachments, or Bredent ball attachments……this worked fine until the remaining roots would decay, or the torquing strains caused by a moving lower denture would lossen the roots….and goodbye.

  To correct such situations, when one of the two canines failed, a rootform implant with a ball attachment would replace the missing natural canine….however with time, the surviving natural canine would fail…leaving a situation of one implant with a ball attachment….until the patient would return for a second implant….. if they did, because age and poor health come into play because this is a scenerio over many years.

  One implant could work well….but it depends on where it was placed…. in the case of the failed canines, at a given time, one implant would be there, but offcentered….better than nothing, but best to place more than one….always

• Robert56 February 7th, 2010

  
  

  It all depends on the forces of occlusion.
  Class of bite
  Bruxing forces in relation to CR and CO.
  It can work but case selection is critical.
  Also the amount of bone loss ( the height of the prosthetics can paly a role in retention and stability.
  You may need more or less.

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