COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RETENTION FORCE BETWEEN TWO RESILIENT ATTACHMENTS IN MANDIBULAR IMPLANT OVERDENTURE (AN INVITRO STUDY)

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the retention force of two different attachments namely, locator and resilient telescopic attachment in retaining two implant-assisted mandibular overdenture. Materials and Methods: Sixteen identical mandibular complete dentures were processed to be attached to a completely edentulous epoxy cast. Two implants were placed in the cast’s interforaminal region with the aid of a surgical guide. Dentures were randomly divided into two equal groups to be implant retained by either locator attachment (Group A), or telescopic attachment (Group B) using the direct pickup technique. Using the universal testing machine, a vertically oriented tensile load was applied parallel to the path of insertion until the attachments were detached from the abutments. The maximum load required for detachment (retentive force) was calculated at the baseline and following repeated insertions and removals. Results: Significant differences were observed in all three-time points (initial time point, after 90 days, and after 180 days) in both attachments. The Locator group had a significantly higher mean in comparison to the Peek telescopic group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The locator had better retention than the peek telescopic group according to vertical dislodging forces in all three-time points.