Magnet Retained Overdenture
An Implant Supported Denture
Overdentures with magnetic attachments are called “Magnetic dentures“. Magnets have become very popular as retainers since the 1950’s. According to The Times, in 1957, a Cornell University Medical College professor developed a denture that was held in place by embedding powerful magnets in the patients jaw bone. The magnets were made from aluminum–nickle–cobalt (AlNiCo) alloys.
The magnetic power of the magnets is nowadays high enough to retain overdentures of a different kind.
Magnet System is a multipurpose system for increasing retention and stabilisation of the overdentures. Magnetic attachments used to retain dentures are typically shorter than mechanical attachments, which is particularly useful for patients with restricted interocclusal (inter-jaw)space and challenging esthetic demands.
Magnetically retained overdentures transfer no detrimental lateral forces to those supporting implant, helps in maintaining favourable clinical situation.
The use of magnetic materials as an aid to denture retention is not new. The use of magnets to provide retention by direct attraction followed, with the placement of a magnet beneath the mucosa, embedded in the bone, and the opposite pole magnet in the fitting surface of the denture base. Manufactured from titanium, the locating face has been developed to eliminate surface wear during function.
Patient Satisfaction
According to the Journal of the Canada Dental Association (JDCA) dated 16th September 2010, in a 10-year randomized clinical trial, there was no difference in general satisfaction with a magnetic attachment system for retaining lower complete dentures and 2 types of mechanical attachments (ball or bar systems), although the dentures retained by magnets were subjectively less stable and less comfortable than dentures retained by mechanical attachments.