Abstract
Patient: A 61-year-old woman presented with a chief complaint of difficulty in chewing caused by the missing of lower molars and the mobility of upper incisors. Implant-retained porcelain-fused-to-metal prostheses were fabricated for the mandibular bilateral free-end space to reestablish proper occlusal support. For the upper incisal region, teeth-retained splinted porcelain-fused-to-metal prostheses were fabricated. The patient was followed for more than 3 years after treatment, and a slight chipping of porcelain was observed in the prosthesis of the lower left second molar during the follow-up period. The chipping was treated by surface modification and polishing of the surface.
Discussion: The presence of minute cracks in the porcelain and the alteration of occlusal contacts by physiological teeth movement might both have caused the chipping of porcelain.
Conclusion: Functional problems caused by the loss of occlusal support were successfully rehabilitated using an implant-retained fixed partial denture.
