An In Vitro Study Of Evaluation Of Fatigue Resistance Of Various Implant Overdenture Stud Attachments With Different Denture Base Materials.

Background: Implant overdentures with stud attachments are a popular choice for edentulous patients due to their enhanced retention, stability, and patient satisfaction.However, the fatigue resistance of different stud attachment systems may vary based on mechanical wear over time.Additionally, the type of denture base material used may influence the performance of these attachments.This in vitro study aims to evaluate and compare the fatigue resistance of various implant overdenture stud attachments in combination with different denture base materials.Materials and Methods: Three types of stud attachments were tested: Locator, Ball, and Magnetic attachments.Each attachment was paired with three different denture base materials: heat-cured polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), injection-molded resin, and nylon-based flexible resin.A total of 45 samples were fabricated (15 samples for each type of attachment).Fatigue testing was conducted using a cyclic loading machine, simulating mastication forces (50 N) for 50,000 cycles at 1.5 Hz frequency.Retention force (N) was measured before and after fatigue loading using a universal testing machine.Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey's test, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.Results: The initial retention force for Locator attachments was 35 N, Ball attachments 30 N, and Magnetic attachments 20 N.After fatigue loading, Locator attachments retained 85% of their initial force, Ball attachments 75%, and Magnetic attachments 60%.Denture bases made of PMMA showed the highest retention stability (90% retention post-loading), followed by injection-molded resin (80%) and nylon-based flexible resin (65%).Statistically significant differences were observed among the different attachment types and denture base materials (p < 0.01).Conclusion: Locator attachments demonstrated superior fatigue resistance compared to Ball and Magnetic attachments, making them a preferable choice for long-term use.PMMA as a denture base material exhibited the highest retention stability, suggesting that it may enhance the longevity of stud attachments in implant overdentures.These findings provide useful insights for clinicians in selecting attachment systems and denture base materials for optimal performance.