Mandibular implant-retained overdentures: a literature review.

The implant-retained overdenture for the mandible has been shown to be a highly successful prosthetic treatment similar to the fixed implant denture. However, controversy persists as to its design and indications. Few literature reviews have been published on the topic. This article critically analyzes the existing mandibular implant overdenture literature relative to bone preservation, effect on antagonist jaw, number of implants required, anchorage systems, maintenance, and patient satisfaction. A MEDLINE search was completed (from 1987 to 2001), along with a manual search, to locate relevant English-language articles on mandibular implant overdentures. Twelve treatment concepts are elucidated from a distillation of the literature review.