Osseointegrated dental implants with ball attachments supporting overdentures in patients with mandibular alveolar ridge atrophy.

Brånemark dental implants with ball attachments supporting overdentures were used as alternative treatment to combined lingual-vestibuloplasty with free split-thickness skin graft and removable dentures in 25 consecutive patients with mandibular alveolar ridge atrophy. Ninety-three fixtures were placed. Ball attachments were mounted on the fixtures, and implant-supported overdentures were inserted 3 to 4 months after fixture placement. The observation period after implant activation and prosthesis insertion varied from 12 to 27 months with a median observation period of 18 months. The overall success rate of individual implants was 97% (90/93). The prosthesis function rate was 100% (25/25). The 1-year success rate of individual implants was 98% (91/93) with a prosthesis function rate of 100% (25/25). No persistent surgical or prosthodontic complications were observed. Preliminary results indicate that osseointegrated Brånemark dental implants with ball attachments supporting overdentures can be a successful alternative to combined lingual-vestibuloplasty with free split-thickness skin graft and removal dentures in patients with denture problems related to mandibular alveolar ridge atrophy.