Effect of Ball and Bar Attachment Type on Patient Satisfaction Using Two-Implant-Retained Mandibular Overdenture: A...

Considering the two-implant-retained overdenture as a first treatment of choice for edentulous mandible, patients using the overdentures need to be satisfied with the type of attachment used. The purpose of this study was to determine level of patient satisfaction with two-implant-retained mandibular overdentures opposing conventional maxillary complete denture using ball-socket and bar-clip attachments.

In this within-subject crossover randomized clinical trial, total 20 edentulous patients were given conventional complete dentures for 3 months to use. All completed a satisfaction questionnaire before implant placement. They were randomly assigned to receive an overdenture retained by either ball or bar attachment. After 3 months satisfaction questionnaires were repeated, and crossover was done by changing the attachments. After use of 3 months of alternate attachments, patients were asked to complete the final questionnaires and asked to choose their preferred type. The patient satisfaction scores were recorded after using 3 months of conventional complete denture, 3 months of first attachment and 3 months of second attachment. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed rank test. The P values were adjusted using Bonferroni multiple testing correction, and P < .05 were considered as statistically significant.

There was no significant difference in patient satisfaction between ball and bar attachments. However, patient satisfaction improved significantly between baseline and either-attachment-retained prosthesis. At the end of the comparative crossover experiment, 11 patients voted for the ball attachments and 9 for the bar attachments, thereby indicating them as their preferred attachments.

Among ball and bar attachment, there was no statistically significant difference in satisfaction scores. Neither ball nor bar attachment was chosen as a preference over the other.