Flapped versus flapless surgery and delayed versus immediate loading for a four mini implant mandibular overdenture: a RCT on post-surgical symptoms and short-term clinical outcomes

  • Cláudio Rodrigues Leles*
  • , Marcella Silva de Paula
  • , Thalita Fernandes Fleury Curado
  • , Jésio Rodrigues Silva
  • , José Luiz Rodrigues Leles
  • , Gerald McKenna
  • , Martin Schimmel
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)
109 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Objective
This factorial randomized clinical trial (RCT) tested the effects of the surgical approach (flapped—FPS vs. flapless—FLS surgery) and loading protocol (delayed—DL vs. immediate—IL) for treatment with a four mini implant mandibular overdenture.

Material and Methods
A total of 296 one-piece titanium-zirconium mini-implants were inserted in 74 patients (IL/FLS = 17; IL/FPS = 18; DL/FLS = 20; and DL/FPS = 19). Outcomes included patient's perceived surgical burdens, clinical time, implant survival, and post-surgical symptoms and complications, assessed immediately after surgery, in the 7-day and 6-week follow-ups.

Results
Perceived surgical burdens were relatively low, higher for females, and no difference was found between FPS and FLS surgery. Surgical time was lower for FLS surgery. Overall symptoms were mild after 24 h, and higher for females. Less symptoms were recorded for the FLS surgery compared to the FPS for the delayed loading patients, and FLS surgery was associated with a lower risk of bleeding. No early implant failure was observed until the 6-week follow-up. Delayed was associated with discontinuous use of the prosthesis and poor function. Lower complaint rates were observed for immediate loading regardless of the surgery protocol.

Conclusions
Mini implants for mandibular overdenture are a feasible option regardless of surgical access and loading protocol, with high safety and predictable survival rates, and low incidence of post-insertion complications. FLS surgery requires less clinical time and results in easier intraoral prosthetic incorporation of attachments compared to FPS surgeries. Immediate loading did not increase the risk of early implant failure when satisfactory primary stability was achieved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)953-964
JournalClinical Oral Implants Research
Volume33
Issue number9
Early online date26 Jul 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Sept 2022

Keywords

  • Oral Surgery

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