Stabilizing Mandibular Overdentures With a Single Implant Placed in the Canine Region of the Preferred Chewing Side

Inclusion criteria

• Informed consent signed by the subject
• Age ≥ 60 years
• Edentulous and wearing sufficient complete maxillary and mandibular dentures or ones that can be rendered sufficient via a reline and/or renewal of the prosthetic teeth
• Healed edentulous mandible (minimum 6-8 weeks since last extraction in the anterior zone (4-4) and one year in the posterior zone (5-8))
• Physical status ASA1 and ASA2

Exclusion criteria

• Contraindications to the medical devices used, e.g. known hypersensitivity or allergy
• Vulnerable subjects
• Enrollment of the investigator, his/her family members, employees and other dependent persons
• Known or suspected non-compliance, drug or alcohol abuse
• Inability to perform adequate oral hygiene
• Inability to follow the procedures of the investigation, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia, Parkinson etc. of the subject (Dementia: clock-drawing test score ≤ 5)
• Surgical risk factors such as, but not limited to, uncontrolled diabetes, immunosuppression, radiation, chemotherapy, or antiresorptive medication (ex. Bisphosphonates)
• Heavy smoking habit: >20 cig/d
• Reported severe bruxism or clenching habits, clinically present oro-facial pain
• Depression: Geriatric Depression Scale > 9
• Xerostomia: SSFR ≤ 0.7ml/min
• Ridge dimensions <6 mm (width) by 10 mm (height) in the canine or midline area
• Ridge defects requiring bone augmentation procedures