Clinical and radiographic evaluation of implant-supported removable partial overdenture in the lower Kennedy class IV cases

Introduction The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of implant-supported partial overdenture design in restoring mandibular long class IV Kennedy’s classification on the supporting structure, both clinically and radiographically. Materials and methods Ten partially edentulous patients with lower six anterior teeth missing were selected. Their ages ranged from 40 to 50 years. Each patient received two dental implants placed in the lower edentulous span at the canine area bilaterally. Ball-and-socket attachment (polycarbonate housing with rubber O-ring) was used between the implant and the overlay removable partial denture for retention. Periodic evaluation was carried out for every patient before denture insertion and then after 3, 6, and 9 months. As regards the clinical evaluation, the probing depth, gingival level, and attachment level around the implants were recorded. The radiographic evaluation included the use of specially developed software for measuring the alveolar bone density in gray scales and the bone height in pixels for the implants and the residual alveolar ridges. Results All implants were highly successfully osseointegrated at the end of this study. There was a statistically nonsignificant increase in the clinical parameters (probing depth, gingival level, and attachment level) around the dental implants throughout the 9-month follow-up period after denture insertion. Radiographically, there was a nonsignificant increase in bone loss, but a significant increase in bone density around the dental implants and the alveolar ridge throughout the follow-up period. Conclusion From the previous results, it was found that the concept of immediate loaded dental implant was efficient to be used successfully in the mandibular long Kennedy class IV to retain the partial overdenture.