Radiographic Evaluation of the Effect of Ball and Socket versus Magnetic Attachments on Bone Height of Implant Supported Maxillary Obturator

Abstract

Aim: radiographically evaluate the performance of implant assisted maxillary obturators retained by magnetic versus ball-and-socket attachments on bone height of implant supported obturator.

Material and Methods: Ten patients having Armany class I healed partial maxillectomy were selected for this study. According to the type of implant attachment used, the patients were randomly divided into two equal groups: five patients each, Group I: Ball and socket attachments were used with the long advent implants to retain maxillary obturators. Group II: Magnetic attachments were used with the long advent implants to retain maxillary obturators. Following final adjustments, follow-up visits to examine the supporting tissues, eliminate any complaint and for data collection were scheduled after one week after loading (baseline), three, six, nine and twelve months thereafter. Digital images from the canon drum scanner and Digora system were used to analyze and evaluate bone height.

Results: The mean value of the decrease of bone height of the three implants in the ball and socket and magnet group were statistically significant (P≤0.05) for the magnetic group.

Conclusion: bone height at the crest of the ridge along the implants of the magnet group showed a decrease than that of the ball and socket group and this difference was statistically significant.