OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this laboratory study was to evaluate the long-term retention behaviour of two resin matrix attachment systems for overdentures and the influence of the implant angulation.

METHODS: Sixteen titanium patrices of each attachment system were connected to their corresponding implant analogues and fixed in an auto curing resin either orthogonally (n=8) or 20° tilted (n=8). The corresponding matrices, one made from polyetherketoneketone (PEKK; CM LOC, Cendres+Métaux, Biel, Switzerland), one made from polyethylene (PE; Locator, Zest Anchors, Escondido, California, USA), were fixed in a stylised unilaterally removable dental prosthesis resulting in 4 groups with 8 specimens in each group. Overall, 30,000 joining and separating cycles of the matrix were performed in a chewing simulator. After each joining movement, the unilaterally removable dental prosthesis was loaded eccentrically with 100N at a distance of 12mm from the attachment to simulate clinical loading conditions. Retentive forces were measured during the test using force transducers. The statistical analysis was performed using Tukey-HSD.

RESULTS: Both attachment systems showed a significant decrease in retention over time, which occurred earlier in the tilted groups than in the orthogonal groups. After 5000-30,000 joining and separating cycles the PE matrix attachment provided significantly lower retention than the PEKK matrix attachment system.

CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this investigation, the combination of a titanium patrix and a matrix made from polyetherketoneketone seems to be a promising material combination for long-term retention, also on tilted implants.