A comparative evaluation of fatigue resistance of two different implant overdenture stud attachments with two different denture base materials: An in vitro study

INTRODUCTION: The two implant-supported overdentures have overcome the retention and stability-related problems of conventional mandibular denture. Stud attachments are widely available, less expensive, and easy to use. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine fatigue resistance of two different stud attachments with two denture base materials – autopolymerizing and heat cure acrylic resin till 4320 cycles simulating 03 years of service. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stud implant overdenture attachments, i.e., ball and socket and Dalla Bona attachments were tightened over the implants in two different mandibular edentulous base models. The housings were incorporated with both direct (chairside) and indirect (laboratory) technique into conventional mandibular dentures. These overdentures were subjected to continuous removal and insertion on Universal Testing Machine till 4320 cycles simulating 3 years of service assuming that patient takes out denture, 4 times in a day. The fatigue resistance was calculated for 0, 1440 (1 year), 2800 (2 years), and 4320 (3 years) cycles. Unpaired and paired t-tests were applied to find the level of significance. RESULTS: Ball and socket attachments housed with heat cure acrylic resin (indirect technique) had the highest values of fatigue resistance at all cycles. Following were Dalla Bona attachments with autopolymerizing acrylic resin (direct technique), ball and socket attachments with autopolymerizing acrylic resin (direct technique), and Dalla Bona attachments with heat cure acrylic resin (indirect technique) as per statistical analysis. CONCLUSION: Two implant-supported mandibular overdenture with ball and socket attachments incorporated by indirect technique showed higher values in terms of retention and absence of disengagement/fracture of components.