Expanding the Benefits of Implant Therapy: Implant-Retained Removable Partial Dentures

The multitude of benefits patients derive from implant-based therapy has been well documented for more than 20 years. Implant-based modalities have expanded the options for replacing teeth and returning function in both partial and fully edentulous situations. This article is not intended to review the predictability of fixed implant-supported restorations or the overwhelming health, psychological, and functional benefits derived from removable overdenture therapy. This article will present the clinical and social advantages of an alternative treatment option—implant-retained removable partial dentures— that allows more patients to benefit from implant-based care. T he patient benefits derived from implant-based therapy through the predictability of fixed implant-supported restorations, as well as the health, psychological, and functional benefits of overdenture therapy are well documented.1-3 There has been significantly less attention to the outstanding clinical and social advantages of alternative options that allow more patients to benefit from implant-based care. Implant-retained removable partial dentures (RPDs) have made treatment options available to patients who previously may not have been able to benefit from implant dentistry because of 2 F U N C T I O N A L E S T H E T I C S & R E S T O R A T I V E D E N T I S T R Y : Series 2, Number 3 Practical Applications: A LT E R N AT I V E T R E AT M E N T O P T I O N S Expanding the Benefits of Implant Therapy: Implant-Retained Removable Partial Dentures ROBERT C. VOGEL, DDS FIGURE 1A Initial presentation radiograph of a 53-year-old man before removal of periodontally compromised maxillary molar and implant placement. FIGURE 1B Partially edentulous maxilla after placement of four implants in areas of adequate bone volume and subsequent placement of Locator implant attachments. FIGURE 1C Tissue surface of claspless implantretained RPD with Locator housings and retentive inserts in place. FIGURE 1D Implant-retained, tissue-supported final prosthesis. A B