Prosthodontic considerations for the transmandibular implant.

The transmandibular implant has been designed to provide the patient with a severely atrophic mandible an implant that will bear the masticatory load. Thirteen edentulous patients treated with maxillary complete dentures and mandibular overdentures retained by the transmandibular implant were examined biannually for 2 years. Prosthodontic complications included the development of parafunctional habits, "combination syndrome," and epulis in association with the mandibular denture. Surgery was necessary to control chronic mucosal irritation related to muscle pull in one patient. Among the soft tissue parameters, plaque index, gingival index, and sulcus depth demonstrated statistically significant correlations (Spearman). All patients reported an absence of discomfort and those with previous functional complaints reported the ability to masticate all foods. Patient response to overdenture reconstruction with the transmandibular implant seems to be similar to that observed with the combination case. Oral hygiene appears to be directly related to the soft tissue response.