The effect of implant surface treatment on bone height changes in implant retained mandibular overdenture with locator attachment

Aim: This study aimed to examine alterations in bone height by digital periapical radiography to assess the impact of SLActive implants compared to SLA acid-etched implants assisting lower overlay dentures with locator attachments. Materials and Methods: Thirty fully edentulous cases, were distributed in random fashion into two equal groups from outpatient clinic of prosthodontics, school of dentistry Ain Shams University and rehabilitated with two Implants in the region of inter foramina, to retain lower overdenture after CBCTs assessment. Group I rehabilitated with two SLActive hydrophilic implants with locator while group II received two conventional SLA implants with locator of equal retaining force, both were conventionally loaded after three months of healing and dentures conversion achieved. The alterations in bone height surrounding the implants were assessed utilizing a linear measurement system through standardized digital periapical radiographs, which were carried out using the parallel technique with GSX-700 software to measure the changes mesialy and distally to each one. The measurements were made for each follow up appointment (at 0,6,12,18 months),the loss in marginal bone at different intervals was gained by calculating the difference in bone height level at specific visit from that of base line. Results: Findings indicated a persistent elevation in crestal bone height loss during the duration of the research, although mean values in group (II) were higher than those in group (I), there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups throughout the study period. Conclusion: Given the constraints of patient quantity and follow-up duration, the loss in the crestal bone height in both groups exhibited a consistent rise across the research period, but it remained within an acceptable range and there was absence of statistically significant difference between groups during period of follow-up.