| In the lower jaw, we insert from 2 to 4 implants
to stabilize removable dentures. When 2 are used, their usual positions
are the lower eye-tooth locations. When 3 are used, the 2 in the eye-tooth
locations are supplemented by another in the incisor area. When 4 are used
the 2 in the eye-tooth areas are accompanied by 2 in the second bicuspid
- first molar areas.
We are usually able to achieve a high degree of
parallelism of implants, and therefore studs, during surgery. In the unlikely
event that a patient’s bony anatomy forces us to use divergent implant
angles, an overdenture stud system that will accommodate divergence is
available.
During surgery, we use the patients’ existing
lower dentures, ridge form and upper denture tooth positions as guides
to positioning implants so the studs will fit within the acrylic of the
lower denture. Practitioners may also provide models of patients’ lower
jaws with denture borders marked, as indicators of best implant location
from a prosthetic point of view.
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