An alternative approach to the immediate overdenture

A procedure is described for fabricating an immediate complete overdenture where several teeth retain an interim fixed partial denture (FPD) until the complete denture is finished. Nonessential posterior teeth were first extracted. An interim fixed restoration was fitted to five strategic teeth, and the four maxillary incisors were reduced to the gingival margin. The reduced teeth and the maxillary right molars were extracted at subsequent visits. After 3 months of healing, an immediate prosthesis was fabricated using the interim restoration as a guide. Artificial teeth were tried in the mouth and approved by the patient, and the prosthesis was completed. As no extractions were performed at this time, the prosthesis was delivered in a clean, bloodless field. The remaining five strategic teeth were fitted with dome-shaped metal copings. This procedure allowed better control over the esthetic result and the occlusion and was less traumatic for the patient.