Prof. Dr. Hakan Terzioğlu

Digital Approaches to Implant Supported Fixed Overdentures

With fast growth and widespread application of Digital Dentistry, many conventional practices have been replaced by digital methods.

Implant supported prosthetic treatments require a very comprehensive planning and delicate work especially in case of multiple missing teeth. After implant placement, during the prosthesis production, there are several steps that require attention at all phases and should be repeated when necessary.

The development of intra-oral camera systems and computer assisted production technologies (CAD/CAM) as well as surgical guides obtained via software programs that overlap radiographic images of patients with intra-oral records and production of immediate temporary dentures have provided comfort for patients and facilitated the work of dentists (such as treatment duration; omitting certain intermediate stages of treatment and more precise production).

It is now possible to transfer patient records to digital environment at the beginning of a treatment protocol, complete all treatment stages in virtual environment and produce with three dimensional printers. Even if a procedure was not initiated digitally or conventional process is initiated because clinical means and/or existing implant system is not suitable, later stages can be continued in digital setting.

In this conference, digital techniques applied to produce an implant-supported overdenture and how we can use them will be discussed with case examples.