Tips From Our Readers
A simplified technique to record implant positions when fabricating a conversion prosthesis for immediate loading
Immediately loaded complete-arch fixed implant-supported prostheses have become a popular approach to the treatment of patients with edentulism. In the past 10 years, popular treatment concepts such as All-on-Four (Nobel Biocare) have streamlined the rehabilitation of the edentulous maxilla and mandible, with high implant and prosthetic survival rates.1,2 Two recent studies have reported overall cumulative implant survival rates approaching 97% over a 5- to 7-year follow-up period.3,4 Immediate loading involves either the conversion of an existing complete denture to an interim complete-arch fixed implant-supported prosthesis5,6 or the insertion of a prefabricated prosthesis using computer-aided engineering and cone beam computed tomography.Prosthodontic safety checklist before delivery of screw-retained and cement-retained implant restorations
Dental implant therapy requires meticulous attention to detail at all stages, including treatment planning, surgical placement, and prosthodontic procedures involved in fabricating the restoration. Although knowledge, skill, and experience vary among clinicians, recognizing that the definitive insertion of an implant-supported restoration is distinct from the delivery of a tooth-supported restoration is important and should be regarded as an advanced dental procedure requiring meticulous attention to detail.Surgical safety checklist for dental implant and related surgeries
Throughout the world, dental implant therapy continues as a highly successful modality for replacing missing teeth, and its popularity remains high among general dental practitioners and dental specialists. Nevertheless, as dental implant therapy includes a surgical component and is an elective procedure, clinicians must strive to provide a safe and high quality treatment for patients. With the increase in the number of clinicians performing implant surgeries, the number of complications and surgical errors is expected to increase.An interim solution for a fractured complete-arch fixed implant-supported prosthesis using an Essix retainer
Complete-arch fixed implant-supported prostheses are known to be an excellent solution for edentulism. Although new, stronger materials have evolved, the metal-resin prosthesis using a combination of cast or milled bar supporting acrylic resin and denture teeth continues to be popular because of its lower cost and simplicity. However, these prostheses have a high rate of mechanical complications, primarily related to the fracture of the acrylic resin and denture teeth.1 A prospective cohort study of 24 fixed metal-resin complete-arch implant-supported prostheses found that each prosthesis required resin maintenance 5 to 6 times over a 10-year period.Retrieval of residual alginate impression material from a small oral-nasal communication defect in a maxillectomy patient
Maxillectomy surgery can often result in oral-antral and oral-nasal communication defects that range from small isolated defects to large defects that are bilateral and extend to the orbit.1 These defects can occur in individuals who are dentate, partially edentulous, or completely edentulous.1 Many patients with these types of defects require prosthetic rehabilitation to improve phonation and deglutition.
