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implants - international magazine of oral implantology

I case report Fig. 1_Maxillary anterior gap in regions 12, 11, 21 and 22 (Kennedy Class IV), four months after implant insertion. Fig. 2_Occlusal view of the maxilla with an interdental gap between teeth #13 and 23. Fig. 3_Implant exposure four months post-op. CAD/CAM patient- specific abutments and a new implant design Authors_Prof Dr Frank Liebaug & Dr Ning Wu, Germany 28 I implants4_2012 _Introduction Theobjectiveofanydentalreconstructionisthe natural, functional reconstruction of the stom- atognathic system and the functionally unim- paired or functionally treated masticatory organ. Thisobjectivecanonlybeachievedifindividualpa- tient parameters and distinctive anatomical fea- tures are incorporated into surgical planning and the subsequent prosthetic restoration. Implant-prosthetic care methods must be es- tablished as independent therapy alternatives for specialists and patients, and the possibility of achieving this objective is high. With attention fo- cused on the prosthetic functional aspects of im- plantology, the prosthetic therapy objective is cur- rently becoming the focal point of all efforts. From the point of view of the practising dentist, the main emphasis in treatment planning for im- plant-supported dentures is placed on the pros- thetic specialist. If said specialist is also trained in implantsandsurgery,hewillplacetheimplanthim- selfasasupportmeasureforhisprosthetictherapy, which results in great simplification with regard to planningandthetreatmentprocess.Asarule,how- ever,adentistwhodealswithprostheticswillcom- plete his implant prosthesis in close collaboration with an oral surgeon or oral-maxillofacial surgeon. While surgeons are concerned with the best possible implant procedure or implant design, prosthetic specialists bring us back to the starting point of implantology: the patient’s wishes. Pa- tients do not want implants; rather they want beautiful new teeth with which they feel confident in day-to-day life.1 Team-work is gaining increasing importance in this regard, since, depending on the functional prosthetic objective, prosthetic specialists, dental technicians and implant surgeons might have to worktogetherontheoptimalimplementationofthe plannedresultsusingnavigationandCAD/CAMsys- tems. In the future, this method of integrating im- plantologywillbefoundinjustabouteverypractice. As the hardware for 3-D planning is currently very Fig. 2 Fig. 3Fig. 1