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Treatment guidelines

Alveolar atrophy and insufficiency

Key points

  • Alveolar ridge reduction/resorption is influenced by local, systemic and genetic factors
  • Frequent use of 2-D imaging to evaluate residual edentulous bone reveals better height than width assessment
  • Implant-supported prostheses, unlike complete dentures, appear to retard the ongoing bone resorption

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Treatment guidelines

Edentulous

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Skeletal consequences of edentulism

Teeth loss in the maxilla initiates residual ridge/alveolar resorption, especially in the anterior region, which is flared labially. The consequences of this resorption is a gradual medial or palatal shift of the crest of the maxilla. This...

Patient assessment
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Treatment guidelines

Edentulous

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Vertical dimension

The recording of patient-specific vertical and horizontal jaw relations is a necessary starting point when planning for the occlusal rehabilitation. They are integral components of the mandible’s centric relation (CR)...

Diagnosis and treatment planning
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Treatment guidelines

Edentulous

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Need for grafting

There are three main indications for grafting from an anatomical perspective...

Radiology
Bone grafting and regeneration

Additional resources

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Videos

Andrew Dawood: Graftless management of the resorbed ridge

The lecture gives insight in the use of short, narrow and zygomatic implants in cases with severe bone resorption and how using these technologies can avoid bone grafting and protracted treatment periods. Supported by impressive patient cases, Dr Dawood reviews a treatment solution...
Edentulous treatments
Implants in compromised sites
Fixed prosthetics
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Videos

David Chvartszaid: Distinction between normality and pathology of marginal bone around oral implants

Distinguishing normal and abnormal marginal bone behaviour around osseointegrated implants is a complex and controversial topic. Dr Chvartszaid reviews why this distinction is difficult, and discusses topics such as the existence of multiple proposed etiologies, deficiencies in...
Peri-implantitis
Aftercare / follow up
Systemic factors
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Videos

Sreenivas Koka: Systemic considerations in the context of osseointegration

The lecture discusses fundamental systemic health challenges and their impact on osseointegration, and reviews the influence of diabetes, osteoporosis, smoking, bisphosphonates and radiation therapy. Dr Koka presents the concepts of osseointegration and osseosufficiency, as well as...

Implant surfaces
Systemic factors
Patient assessment

Questions

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