Predictable prosthetic space maintenance during staged complete-mouth rehabilitation

Area of Science:

• Dental prosthetics
• Oral rehabilitation
• Maxillofacial reconstruction

Background:

• Complete-mouth rehabilitation often faces challenges due to patient financial constraints.
• Staged treatment approaches are necessary to manage long-term dental care affordability.
• Maintaining prosthetic space is crucial during phased treatment to prevent complications.

Observation:

• A clear acrylic resin was added to the anterior cameo surface of a maxillary fixed complete denture (FCD).
• This addition served as an effective space maintainer during a staged rehabilitation process.
• The space maintainer successfully prevented supraeruption of mandibular anterior teeth and prosthetic space encroachment.

Findings:

• The staged approach allowed for the restoration of the maxillary FCD, addressing the patient's chief complaint.
• The space maintainer prevented potential complications, avoiding the need for additional treatment.
• Subsequent mandibular rehabilitation with zirconia restorations transitioned smoothly after simple removal of the space maintainer.

Implications:

• This technique offers a viable financial solution for patients undergoing complete-mouth rehabilitation.
• Staged treatment with interim space maintainers ensures treatment continuity and prevents secondary complications.
• The described method facilitates predictable and efficient full-mouth reconstruction, even with treatment delays.