Upper and lower full arch dental reconstruction with implant supported overdentures: a case study

In clinical situations where implant placement in the maxilla is prohibited due to the lack of available bone, more invasive techniques such as autogenous bone grafting and sinus augmentation are often off-putting to patients due to the added expense, risk and morbidity. Purpose of treatment: The intention of this treatment was to dentally restore a patient with a severely resorbed edentulous maxilla, without the use of any grafting techniques.

Under local anaesthetic, five implants were placed in the patient's maxilla using the combined techniques of alveolar ridge-splitting and a Summer's lift. The crest of the alveolus was dissected bilaterally with a fine rotary disc. A combination of osteotomes and bone spreaders were then used to create the individual osteotomies. In the most distal site on the right side, the floor of the maxillary sinus was tapped up to facilitate implant placement. All implants were submerged under the gum for six months to allow them to ossteointegrate. Restorative stages were then completed.

At six months, all five maxillary implants had successfully integrated. The maxilla also showed marked expansion where the alveolus had been dissected and bone had healed between the separated buccal and palatal plates. The final restoration was a metal-framed overdenture attached to a milled titanium bar supported on five implants.

In this single case study, a patient's atrophic, edentulous maxilla was successfully restored without grafting techniques. The overdenture has been in trouble-free function for two years.