The Influence of Implants Number and Distribution on the Load Transmitted to the Palate for Implant Assisted Maxillary Overdentures

Statement of problem There is little information as to how the number and distribution of implants affect the amount of load transmitted to the palate in implant-assisted maxillary overdentures. Purpose Evaluate the difference in the load transmitted to the palate at different implants number and distribution. Materials and methods six overdenture bases were fabricated to fit an average sized edentulous maxillary replica with different implants number and distribution using positioner attachments. A force-measuring sensor was used to measure the force transmitted to the palate when static force of 110 and 220 N were applied on the denture bases. Data were statistically analyzed. Results The mean (SD) of force transmitted to the palate was in its highest value when no implants (control group) were used (38.28 2.47), (80.68 2.62) N and lowest value when overdenture bases assisted by 8 implants (12.33 2.52), (26.60 2.55) N when static load were 110 and 220 N respectively. The amount of force transmitted to the palate from implant assisted maxillary overdenture bases significantly declined with increasing the number and the distance between the implants. Conclusion implant numbers and distributions had a significant effect on the load transmitted from implant assisted maxillary overdenture to the palate.