Abstract
An implant-supported overdenture potentially provides a functional and esthetic reconstruction,provided that the implants are precisely placed in a predetermined location and at a predetermined angulation. This article describes a technique in which a guide is fabricated for radiographic evaluation of implant placement, and it also serves as a surgical guide for the placement of implants for a patient with mandible overdenture. A stent was constructed using a clear resin from a duplicate denture or a wax denture.
The stent implements the information from a CT scan, and it was modified to guide the surgical placement of the implant.
A diagnostic stent with radiopaque markers, such as silicone rubber impression materials, indicating the denture space and cylinders of silicone rubber bite materials, were used to determine the best location and angulation of the implant.
Cross-sectional images were selected that contain the silicon cylinders, and the most desirable locations for the implants were decided.
From the angulation of the silicone cylinders with the available bone and the position of the vital structures, the best angulation for the implants were decided.
The surgical stent with the diagnostic information, and the optimum position of the surgical sites,indicated the precise drill access holes. The three-dimensional stent design provided guidance for accurate implant placement for an implant-supported overdenture.
