The wide fixture: a solution for special bone situations and a rescue for the compromised implant. Part 1

This paper describes a new 5.0-mm-diameter self-tapping implant, a modification of the standard Brånemark fixture designed to increase the amount of bone-to-titanium surface contact and to capture dense bone at the lateral and crestal borders of the alveolus. Indications for its use include (1) areas of inadequate bone height, (2) areas of poor bone quality (type IV), and (3) immediate replacement of non-integrated or fractured implants. This preliminary report discusses the design alterations and surgical techniques available to treat these difficult bone situations.