Dolder bar joint mandibular overdenture: a technique for nonparallel abutment teeth

A mandibular overdenture technique has been presented that utilizes the Dolder bar joint attachment. Endodontically treated lower canines were retained as abutments. Two techniques for attaching the bar to teeth with divergent root canals were discussed: (1) the Schubiger screw system for those teeth with extremely divergent canals and (2) the Stutz pivots system for teeth with only slightly divergent root canals. The use of the Dolder bar joint offers periodontally involved teeth an improved crown/root ratio and splinting of the teeth. Because the bar is close to the alveolar bone, forces of mastication exert much less leverage to the teeth. Finally, the bar joint offers slight vertical and rotational movement of the denture as well as a stressbreaker action.