Immediate loading of cylinder implants with overdentures in the mandibular symphysis: the titanium plasma-sprayed...

A technique is described for the placement of titanium plasma-sprayed screw implants in the mandibular symphysis. Four TPS screw implants are placed in the mandibular symphysis. An impression is made for a meso-bar at the time of surgery, and a bar is placed four to seven days following the surgery. A soft re-lined denture is placed over the bar as a provisional prosthesis during the initial healing phase following implant placement. The surgical and prosthetic management of implant-supported overdenture cases may be greatly simplified with the use of this technique in a carefully selected group of patients. Additionally, patients experience improved function during the initial healing phase following implant placement. A review of the literature indicates that osseo-integration is achieved with a high level of predictability (Buser et al., 1988) when this technique is properly applied.