SPLINTED ZIRCONIA FIXED PARTIAL DENTURE SUPPORTED BY MINI IMPLANTS IN THE POSTERIOR MANDIBLE: A CASE REPORT.

Abstract

Abstract One of the most frequently extracted tooth is the mandibular molar. A highly accepted and elegant solution is to replace the missing molar with an endossous implant and a fixed crown. A biologically, anatomically and physiologically appropriate solution could be to replace the two roots of the missing molar with two implants. One way to incorporate the use of two implants to support a molar sized crown is to use implants of smaller diameter. Mini implants may successfully support fixed partial dentures in the posterior mandible in highly selected patients with an appropriate prosthetic design and occlusal scheme. Jaw forces, bone quality and volume are edentulous site conditions that may affect treatment decisions. The implant dentist should consider many diverse implant and prosthetic designs to appropriately treat the atrophic mandible. Zirconia splinted crowns supported by mini dental implants may be an effective treatment for selected posterior sites.