![]() She was losing weight and wanted "permanent teeth." A review of her medical history revealed that she had osteoporosis that was not being treated with medication and that she was allergic to cephalexin and amoxicillin. She stated that the denture had reduced her quality of life and her ability to function at the level she expected. Bacteria and plaque do not seem to adhere to the zirconia undersurface, so maintenance has become fairly routine.Ī 45-year-old female patient presented to the office with a conventional maxillary denture that had recently been immediately placed at another practice. For home care, dentists can recommend the use of a water flosser to eliminate any debris underneath the bridge. 4 The bridges were designed to be readily maintained by the patient. It is important to note that, depending on the amount of bone loss that has occurred, it is sometimes necessary to use gingiva-colored material in order to help support the lip while making the teeth appear normal in size. This prosthesis had minimal palatal coverage and proved to be very esthetic and functional. ![]() ![]() The following case report presents a procedure to create a fixed maxillary restoration using an implant-retained, cemented zirconia bridge (The decision was made to restore the patient's mandibular arch at a later time). Both options resemble conventional bridges, 2 and patient responses have been extremely positive in every aspect. The current evolution is the zirconia bridge, which can be screw-retained or cemented onto custom-aligned abutments. Fixed hybrid appliances were certainly a step in the right direction in meeting patients' clinical expectations but were not a perfect solution. 1 Although these threaded appliances provide a permanent, fixed solution for many patients, problems can arise that result in excessive wear of the denture teeth and fracture of the acrylic framework of the prosthesis. In the recent past, fixed hybrid appliances with milled bars and denture teeth were used to eliminate both full palatal coverage complete dentures and removable horseshoe-shaped implant-retained overdentures. Because material availability and computer technology have improved, dental laboratories are able to mill precise and esthetic prostheses. These esthetic, functional, and stable devices provide increased chewing ability, have exceptional wear resistance, and provide for better speech because of the minimal palatal coverage. Competence and confidence in these surgical procedures come through continuous education and are certainly achievable by the general dentist.įixed implant prosthetics are quickly becoming an important option for the restoration of edentulous patients. Many general practitioners do not feel comfortable surgically placing dental implants for several reasons, including a lack of proper training, a lack of knowledge of vital anatomy, and a fear of damaging the mandibular nerve, the maxillary sinuses, or both. With the proper education, a general dentist is capable of diagnosing and treatment planning individual cases as well as treating those that are within the scope of his or her experience and competence. Implants need not be placed in every situation however, clinicians should still be aware of the newest and most effective techniques. Dental implant procedures have become very well known to the public because of the internet and advertisements, and it is imperative that dentists understand and provide this therapy. The dentist's job is to educate and instruct them about the benefits and risks of the procedures available to treat their conditions. Today's patients understand their dental problems and present to the office with missing teeth or conventional removable appliances. When surgically placed and properly restored, dental implants are a viable alternative to conventional dental techniques. As engineering principles have become better understood and surgical and prosthetic components made more reliable, the successes have been incredible. Implant dentistry has become a routine and effective means for restoring edentulous spaces in patients. What our edentulous patients are asking for ![]() Implant-Retained, Solid Zirconia Full Arch Reconstruction
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