Implant-Retained Overdenture Associated Bone Loss

Objective: To measure bone loss associated with wearing implant-retained overdenture in opposition to conventional complete denture after 12 months by 3-dimensional radiography and medical imaging program. Methods: This clinical study measure the bone loss of 17 patients using 3-dimensional radiographs that were taken before and one year after treatment. Three-dimensional models were calculated from these radiographs and superimposed using Mimics program. Areas of bone loss distal to the implants (placed in canine region) were located and measured as area and volume loss after a year. Results: All 17 patients suffered some degree of bone loss and there was a high variation in amount of bone loss between the patients. The area of bone loss occurred mostly on top of the residual ridge corresponding to the molar region and on the lingual incline of the residual ridge in the premolar region. In terms of area, the range of bone loss was from 0.7–5.6%; and in volume, the range was from 1.5-10.1%. Conclusion: Bone loss associated with implant-reatined overdenture was precisely located and measured using highly visual 3-dimensional radiographs and medical imaging program. The amount of bone loss between patients showed huge variation.