The incomprehensible success of the implant stabilised overdenture in the edentulous mandible: a literature review on transfer of chewing forces to bone surrounding implants.

The approach of implant stabilised overdentures has become one of the routine treatment modalities for compromised edentulous ridges. The purpose of this literature review is to analyze survival rates of loaded implants, occlusal forces and stress distributions of implant stabilised overdentures in edentulous mandibles and of fixed loaded implants at least over a medium-term period. which is comparable with fixed prostheses. Patients with implant stabilised overdentures and with fixed bridges on implants generate similar occlusal forces. The number of implants under a prosthetic construction seems to have less influence on stress distribution than design of the superstructure and related direction of forces.