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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare elderly patients’ satisfaction and oral
health–related quality of life with mandibular two-implant overdentures and conventional
dentures. Materials and Methods: Sixty edentulous subjects aged 65 to 75 years were
randomly assigned to two groups treated with maxillary conventional dentures and either a
mandibular conventional denture (n = 30) or an overdenture supported by two implants
with ball retainers (n = 30). Subjects rated their general satisfaction, as well as other features
of their dentures (comfort, stability, ability to chew, speech, esthetics, and cleaning ability),
prior to treatment and 2 months postdelivery. Changes in ratings on the original Oral Health
Impact Profile (OHIP) and its short form (OHIP-EDENT) were also used as indicators of oral
health–related quality of life. Results: The primary outcome of this study, ratings of general
satisfaction 2 months postdelivery, was significantly better in the group treated with mandibular
two-implant overdentures ( P= .001). In addition, the implant group gave significantly
higher ratings on comfort, stability, and ability to chew. Furthermore, using OHIPEDENT,
subjects who received mandibular two-implant overdentures had significantly
fewer oral health–related quality of life problems than did the conventional group.
Conclusion: These short-term results suggest that mandibular two-implant overdentures
combined with maxillary conventional dentures provide better function and oral health–
related quality of life than conventional dentures. Int J Prosthodont 2003;16:390–396.
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