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Dr. Dr. Frank Kloss, MKG Chirurgie Lienz, Austria Dr. Dr. Stefan Grüner, dentist from Lienz, Austria Martin Lindsberger, dental laboratory, Lienz, Austria

SKY 'fixed' – but not quite so 'fast'

Introduction

Case Description

Middle-aged patients, i.e. between the ages of 50 and 70, with missing teeth in one or both jaws present a particular challenge to dental practitioners. They want to have 'fixed' teeth again, but are fearful of extensive surgery and excessive costs, preferring a low-risk form of restoration. We had these patients at the forefront of our minds when we 'tweaked' the SKY fast & fixed protocol to make the acceptance threshold for those deciding on implantation as low as possible. This means inserting only four implants into the maxilla and applying a definitive restoration to these after osseointegration. The aim is to significantly reduce the cost of the whole restoration.

A drilling template for pilot drilling purposes was fabricated from a 3D plan. The idea was to make the best possible use of the highly atrophied local bone. In this particular case, it was necessary to raise the base of the nose internally with bone condensors and perform bone splitting for all four implants to ensure the alveolar ridge remained sufficiently wide. Following insertion of the implants, the wounds were sealed and closed to enable the implants to heal. The prosthesis was ground out to ensure a stress-free healing period. After 12 weeks of healing, the implants were exposed, and SKY esthetic gingiva formers were applied. Two weeks later, the gingiva formers were replaced with SKY fast & fixed or SKY uni.cone abutments. The restoration was then performed in the traditional manner in accordance with the patient's wishes. The SKY uni.cone abutments at the front of the maxilla really proved their worth, since their narrow platform avoids aesthetic-type problems in all but a few cases. The patient is very satisfied with her fixed restoration and is also coping very well with cleaning, a task made much easier with fewer implants. The restoration also greatly improves her quality of life, as she is not restricted when eating and does not need to worry about the prosthesis falling out at an inopportune moment.

Standardised treatment concepts help us deliver successful outcomes at our practice. This is particularly true if they are flexible enough to suit patients' wishes, needs, and means. The SKY fast & fixed system offers a wealth of possibilities in this respect.

Conclusion