[Mandibular atrophy and a screw-retained implant-supported prosthesis]

Prosthetic care for mandibular atrophy has raised many difficult problems, particularly in the most severe cases. The solution to most of these problems lies in the use of osteointegrated implants. Good results were obtained by using a small number of implants associated with adjustable overdenture prostheses or, alternatively, by using a larger number of implants (5 or 6) associated with a screw fixed prosthesis with posterior cantilever. Cantilever prostheses can provide support for the mental foramen zones and the posterior zones of the mandibular body where bone resorption is important after application of adjustable plates to the fibromucosa.