Four locator attachments of mandibular implant-retained overdentures with two different distributions: A 10-year retrospective preliminary study of residual alveolar ridge changes

Objectives: There is little information on the long-term function of the four Locator attachment of the mandibular implant retained overdenture (OD), particularly with different distributions. Purpose: To compare the effect of different four inter-foraminal implant distributions retaining a mandibular OD after 10 years of function on posterior mandibular ridge resorption (PMandRR), anterior maxillary ridge resorption (AMaxRR), and the amount of marginal bone loss (MBL) around all four implants. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two participants with total edentulism who had worn mandibular OVDs retained by four inter-foraminal implants for 10 years of functional life were selected for this study. They were divided into two groups based on implant distribution: Group I with a quadrilateral distribution (QD) of implants and Group II with a linear distribution (LD) of implants. PMandRR, AMaxRR, and MBL around implants were measured. Results: After 10 years of function, PMandRR was significantly higher in the LD group than in the QD group (p < 0.001*). There was no significant difference in AMaxRR between the QD and LD groups (p = 0.431). The QD group showed a significantly greater amount of MBL around dental implants when compared with the LD group (p = 0.002*). Conclusions: The LD of implants demonstrates more PMandRR compared with the QD. The QD of implants demonstrates a greater amount of MBL around dental implants compared with the LD. Both implant distributions demonstrate the same effect on the AMaxRR. MBL around implants remained within normal accepted values after 10 years of function.