Surface Area of the Prosthesis Support Polygon with Different Implant Configurations in Edentulous Maxillae
Wentaschek S*, Seiß S, Igiel C, Behneke N
Affiliation
Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, University Medical Center of the University of Mainz, Augustusplatz, Mainz, Germany
Corresponding Author
Stefan Wentaschek, DMD, MSc. Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, University Medical Center of the University of Mainz, Augustusplatz 2, 55131 Mainz, Germany, Tel: +49-6131 17 3062/ Fax: +49-6131 17 5517; E-mail: stefan.wentaschek@unimedizin-mainz.de
Citation
Wentaschek, S., et al. Minimally Invasive Dentistry Approach Benefits of Using Laser. (2017) J Dent Oral Care 3(1): 1- 4.
Copy rights
© 2017 Wentaschek, S. This is an Open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Keywords
Abstract
Background: A minimum of four implants should be used in edentulous maxillae to anchor a dental prosthesis. A wide anterior/posterior distribution of the implants is advantageous. Besides bone grafting, short or tilted implants are used to achieve this in atrophic edentulous maxillae. The implants define a polygon that should be as large as possible. This study investigated the differences in the surface area of the polygon of implant-retained prosthesis support with straight and tilted dental implants in edentulous maxillae.
Materials and Methods: In fifty DICOM-datasets of atrophic edentulous maxillae, four different implant configurations using four implants each were virtually planned and measured. The distal implants were either straight (12, 10 or 8 mm long) or tilted (≥ 12 mm) and positioned as distally as possible without bone grafting.
Results: The mean surface area of the prosthesis support polygon with straight implants distally, 12 mm in length, was 263 mm² (SD: 134, range: 36 to 590 mm²). The use of 2 mm shorter implants resulted in an enlargement of the support polygon of about 20 %. By using tilted implants (42 to 45°), the size of the polygon (mean: 456 mm², SD: 180, range: 151 to 949 mm²) was increased by another 20 % compared to straight 8 mm long implants.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the implant-retained prosthesis support area can be enlarged by reducing the implant length of distal implants, and it can be further enlarged in edentulous maxillae by using tilted implants.
