Restoring soft and hard dental tissues using a removable implant prosthesis with digital imaging for optimum dental...

Currently, most dental implants are placed in the esthetic zone with a delayed surgical protocol. This delay can result in loss of both soft and hard oral tissues following the healing period, necessitating guided tissue regeneration, distraction osteogenesis, or bone expansion and grafting procedures either prior to or at the time of implant placement. If a delayed placement protocol is used, or if grafting procedures are ineffectual, the prosthetic phase of implant dentistry must restore the missing structures artistically and functionally to integrate with the patient's existing dentition. This article presents the option of using a removable implant prosthesis for an esthetic anterior restoration of soft and hard tissues. A computer-assisted camera was used to record speaking, smiling, and active facial positions, with digital imaging to achieve realism for tooth position during the prosthetic phase. The captured patient images with the esthetic setups were transmitted by e-mail for direct viewing by both dentist and dental technician prior to case completion. These images were viewed as reference files during laboratory construction of the prosthesis to achieve the desired esthetic and functional results.