Two Conventional Implants vs Four Mini Dental Implants to Retain Mandibular Overdentures: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Radiological Outcomes

It is essential to compare conventional dental implants (CDIs) and mini dental implants (MDIs). This systematic review evaluates the clinical and radiological outcomes of individuals receiving MDI-retained overdentures (ODs) compared with CDI-retained ODs. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed for the current systematic review. The PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were examined for evidence-based research articles addressing the clinical and radiological outcomes of MDI and CDI published from January 2013 to September 2024. Two independent specialists conducted an autonomous search and established predefined screening criteria. The risk of bias for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was evaluated using the criteria established by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions for scientific merit. The informational database and manual searches produced 242 papers. Eight RCTs were examined after eliminating duplicates and organizing the publications according to the qualifying criteria. MDI-retained ODs have been shown to provide numerous benefits, including reduced bone resorption; enhanced esthetics, occlusion, and tooth location; improved occlusal load direction; and maintenance of occlusal vertical dimension. The current systematic review suggests that using MDIs to retain overdenture prostheses could be a viable alternative treatment option due to the high survival rates, acceptable marginal bone loss, and improvements in patient satisfaction and oral health–related quality of life metrics.