Immediately loaded small-diameter dental implants:evaluation of retention, stability and comfort for the edentulous patient.

Studies have shown that mandibular implant overdentures significantly increase satisfaction and quality of life of edentulous elders. Improved chewing ability appears to have a positive impact on nutritional state. Forty edentulous subjects received four permucosal mini-implants for overdentures in the inter-foramina region of the mandible. Almost all participants were still satisfied with their overdentures. Participant satisfaction was concerning retention and stability of the mandibular overdenture. A micro invasive technique was adopted, without open flap and performed in one chirurgical step; this technique can be used also in the so-called “high- risk” patients (anticoagulant therapy, diabetes, ets.) the advent of mini implants is in many cases a goods clinical alternative to the use of larger diameter implants, in that they enable to reduce surgical time, bleeding, post operative comfort and healing time. The results suggest that a mandibular overdenture retained by 4 mini implants may be the best treatment strategy for edentulous people with atrophic ridges.