Implants and Attachments
Opal Dental Lab have trained our technicians to the highest standards in all aspects of implant cases. As a “Platinum Approved” lab by Straumann and a member of the Association of Dental Implantology we attend courses all over the UK.
As we keep up to date with the latest techniques and developments in the field of implants we are able to offer technical advice to support treatment planning to surgeons.
As more Dentists include implants in their treatment plans we find it important that a close working relationship is developed between laboratory and surgeon.
Pre-treatment Planning
- Radiographic stent as reference to determine bond depth
- Try-in or diagnostic wax-up for best positioning of implants
- Guide stent for proper placement and anciliation of implants
- Customised abutments in Zirconia or Titanium
Implant restorations require the same goals as general restorative dentistry, a demand to restore a patient to normal function, esthestics, comfort and health. This is regardless of atrophy, disease, or injury to the stomatognathic system. Although significant advances in implant technology have made many aspects of this speciality routine, long term success hinges on the same basic restorative principles: stable occlusion, healthy joints and supporting structure.
We encourage thorough pretreatment planning of final restorations before surgery, especially for comprehensive full arch and combination cases. We strongly recommend particular attention be paid to the anterior determinates of phonetics, the envelope of function, posterior neutral zone, determination of proper vertical dimension and centric relation.
Fixed
These may be single(s) or multiple units, up to a full arch case, ad are among the most predictably successful restorations in dentistry. The impression should be taken at fixture level using the open tray technique. In the lab, we make the custom abutments from a full contour wax-up. The custom abutments may be titanium, gold, all ceramic or even gold with a ceramic base, depending on the situation. many different variations of design and materials are possible.
Removable
Also referred to as fixed/removable since fixed work is involved with the implants, and the restoration superstructure with the teeth is removable by the patient for cleaning. These designs will include the largest variety, with more or fewer implants involved, and an almost endless number of bars, magnets, and attachments available. These cases may be implant or tissue supported.
Fixed/Detachable
These are also sometimes referred to as “hybird” cases since the design is somewhat between a fixed and removable. These cases are implant supported, screw retained and thus removable, but only by the doctor, not the patient. They are typically used on the lower arch, ideally with five implants, placed in the anterior and premolar region, with the restoration cantilevered distally depending on the Anterior/Posterior (AP) spread of the implants.
Implant Seating
Many cementable implant systems are designed to accommodate the abutments in several different positions. Laboratory prepared implant abutments are created to seat into the implant in only one position. There have been rare occasions however, when an abutment has been seated in the implant incorrectly. Now, as an additional safeguard, to prevent this problem from ever happening again we prepare a composite seating jig that will simply and correctly locate the proper position of the abutment. this additional complimentary service will eliminate the problem of implant abutments being seated in the wrong position.
