Australasian Dentist Implant Dentistry Today No 15

Implant Dentistry Today 38 A dvances in dental implants are giving dentists more treatment options than ever. Navigating the common pitfalls and complexities of dental implants is easier with a good dental lab by your side. The rise of cosmetic and restorative dentistry has put dental implants at the forefront of Australia’s modern dental industry. But navigating the thousands of implant types, techniques, materials and brands on the market to find the best solution for your individual patient can be difficult. Here are seven common dental implant problems dentists encounter, and how working with Avant Dental can help you take corrective action: Pro em #1: Poor y fitting im ants When it comes to implants, close enough is never good enough. Implant restorations must precisely fit over the implant abutment to prevent complications such as the loosening of crowns and abutments, plaque and bacteria build-up, and screw and implant fractures. Wha o o: A confirmation x-ray should reveal any ill-fitting components. If corrective action is required, you may need to take a new impression and ask your dental lab to remake the crown. The Avant technicians can create a digital simulation, and the dentist is invited to virtually review the proposed implant placement plan. “The dentist can talk to the technician and make on-the-spot alterations in real time through our virtual platform,” says Ian Feigen, Technical Director at Avant Dental. Pro em #2: Loose ro ns Loose screws and abutments, cement washouts, poor fit and bite issues can all cause crowns to become loose. Wha o o: A loose abutment or screw may simply need to be tightened. Occlusal adjustments can be used to address bite issues that are causing the crown to become loose. Check the crown margin seal to prevent cement washouts, and if the crown is a poor fit over the abutment it may need to be remade by your lab. Pro em #3: ood entra ment The implant may be too small or poorly positioned; one-size-fits-all stock abutments could be contributing to a poor fit; or the crown may be poor quality, inaccurate or contoured improperly. Wha o o: Custom abutments may be able to correct an implant that is placed too deep or fix an implant that is slightly misaligned. Custom abutments that are designed to fit your patient are always preferable to stock abutments to prevent a poor mucosa fit. By using an experienced, best-practice dental lab they can assist you in pre-planning to prevent contour errors in the crown. “At Avant Dental, our team of trained technicians are here to assist you through the entire digital implant planning process, from the initial patient consultation through to guided surgery, implant placement, and the final restorative outcome,” explains Kylie Harris, Operations Manager at Avant Dental. Pro em #4: a - ositioned denta im ants Incorrectly positioned dental implants can cause a range of issues including cosmetic, hygiene and chewing problems. Wha o o: A custom abutment and crown may be able to correct the angle of an implant that is just slightly off axis. Your dental lab should be able to assist you here. “At the lab, we digitise the impression or take the intraoral scan and overlay it on the CBCT scan in our intuitive software,” says Feigen. “This shows us a much more detailed view of where the nerves, bone density and potential problem areas are, and enables us to identify the optimal Laboratories Troubleshooting dental implants: 7 common problems