Tooth replacements intended for implants

Implant-retained tooth replacements fall into two big categories: fixed and removable tooth replacements. Within these categories various solutions exist and our colleagues seek to offer a customised solution best suited to the relevant case. Fixed tooth replacements retained by implants (crowns, bridges) Fixed tooth replacements can be applied in the following instances:

• In case of single tooth loss one implant is installed and one crown is mounted on top.

• In case of multiple tooth loss, for instance end-of-arch edentulism, 2 or more implants are installed and a bridge is mounted thereupon.

• In case of complete edentulism at least 6 to 8 implants are required on each arch for a fixed (i.e. non-removable) tooth replacement (viz. implant circular bridge) to be prepared.

Fixed tooth replacements can be secured in the mouth by 2 different means: 1. Screw-retained implant crown A screw-retained crown and the respective abutment are secured in the implant (artificial root canal) by means of a through bolt. . 2. Cement-retained implant crown A cement-retained implant crown is fastened onto the abutment by means of luting cement. Removable dentures (overdentures) designed for implants Overdentures are applied where bone mass is sufficient in the front edentulous section but insufficient in the rear section. They may also be an excellent option if 6 to 8 implants and a fixed solution are beyond the patient’s means. In such cases at least 2 but preferably 4 implants are required on each arch for a sufficiently stable denture to be prepared. These dentures sit very firmly on the implants and are in perfect alignment with the jaw ridge, which ensure excellent denture stability. Types:

• Locator-retained denture

A clip-on locator abutment is installed on the implant anchoring the denture on the jawbone. The main benefit of the Locator system is the fact that it allows for a faster (around 5 days’) turnaround for preparing the permanent metal plate denture, and is more cost-efficient than implant bar-supported retention. Locator-retained dentures are designed for at least 2, but preferably 4 implants.

• Bar-retained dentures

Implant bar-retained dentures ensure a more solid and durable result. Bar-retained dentures can be designed for 4 or more implants, but cannot be applied on 2 implants. With bar-retained dentures a screw-on bar is patterned and cast from metal by the dental technician to link the 4 implants. The overdenture attaches (clips on) to this bar by means of Straumann titanium screws. This bar-retained solution has a lead-time of around 10 days but offers a more durable, if less inexpensive, result than Locator-supported retention. IMPORTANT NOTICE Implant-borne tooth replacements require as much, if not more care and follow-up as natural tooth-borne varieties. There is a very close relationship between oral hygiene and the longevity of implants.