The final restoration blends pretty nicely with the original restoration. Note how the maintenance of the natural cuspid affects the gingival line on the left side of the mouth. The mandibular posterior teeth were restored with individual ceramo-metal restorations.

Once the implants and abutments were in place, this patient treatment was handled pretty much as if the patient had natural teeth. The abutments were modified in the mouth to attain their final configuration (although the bulk of the abutment modification was done outside of the mouth on the original working cast). The laboratory received a final working cast that really did not indicate that there were implants used. They followed their normal techniques for constructing this restoration and the results are encouraging. The only additional costs in providing the restoration in this manner is the cost of the prepable abutments.

I just want to add that when the restorative dentist assumes the responsibility for placing and preparing the abutments, the additional control provides for a superior final result. You have to get into these cases and see what is developing. The laboratory technician does not have your advantage of seeing and working with the soft tissues and the contours in the mouth.