| Description | These
are implants that are made to fit over and around the jaw bone. They can
be used in the upper or the lower jaw. Older techniques made it necessary
to do a surgical procedure to expose the bone and take an impression. Then
the model was sent to a lab and the framework was constructed, returned
to the dentist who would then do a second surgery to insert the implant.
Today, x-rays can be used to make a three dimensional model on which the
implant framework is made. |  | | Surgical
Advantages: |
Proponents
of these implants would say that they can be used in areas where there is
not enough bone to use root form implants. This is not true.
| | Surgical
Disadvantages |
The
surgical technique is difficult and demanding and often causes damage
to
critical structures. When these implants fail, and they do have a very
high failure rate, there is always a great deal of damage to hard
and soft tissues.
Implants must be custom constructed for each patient.
| | Prosthetic
Advantages |
None
| | Prosthetic
Disadvantages |
Prosthetic
abutments are very limited and abutments may not be in the position that
we would want for ideal tooth placement.
| | Economics |
These
implants are difficult and costly to manufacture. They can only be manufactured
in select areas and the equipment and techniques do vary somewhat.
| | Recommendations |
This
is basically an inferior category and has no indication today. Not
recommended!
|
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 20 September 2006 )
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