Effect of Abutments Design on Wear of Locator Attachments in Effect of Abutments Design on Wear of Locator Attachments in Implant Retained Mandibular Overdenture

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the effect of abutments design on wear behavior of Locator attachments in implant-retained mandibular overdenture. Materials and Methods: Two epoxy models representing an edentulous mandible were used, two implants were placed in each model. Twenty-four locator attachments were used (twelve in each study group). Cycles of Insertion and removal were performed using a universal testing machine resembling 3 years of clinical use, then each abutment was scanned by scanning electron microscope (SEM) before and after insertion and removal cycles. Data were compared qualitatively using a specialized computer software Results: There was a statistically significant difference in wear between the two studied locator groups P=0000*. Locator F-TX showed 29±1.704 % of surface change. PEEKLOC. Locator showed 21±2.090 %of surface change. Conclusions: PEEKLoc. abutment design showed more wear resistance than the recently introduced Locator F-TX.