Implant-Based Planning and Treatment Options for Edentulous Arches (Jun 5 - 6, 2015)

The treatment of complete and single arch edentulism remains a significant priority for dental clinicians. With an aging population and advances in medicine, more patients with complex medical and dental needs, inclusive of edentulism, will require care. This program will address the physical complexities of edentulism and requirements of a comprehensive pre-treatment analysis that will focus on providing the surgical and restorative options for our patients. Participants will be introduced to a patient classification system (SAC) that can measure overall treatment difficulty based upon several clinical factors collected during the comprehensive exam. Several trending philosophies will be covered ranging from; parallel vs. tilted implant placement, implant positioning for fixed vs. removable restorations, overdentures vs. hybrid restorations, conventional vs. immediate loading and various materials to restore edentulous arches.

During the planning phase, indications and requirements for removable and fixed treatment options will be reviewed based upon; the restorative plan, space requirements, implant selection, implant positioning, grafting options and material choices. The hands-on component will introduce placement of implants in a simulated edentulous arch with abutment selection and placement for given edentulous situations.

Patient treatments incorporating over-dentures, fixed-detachable (hybrid) prostheses and metal ceramic fixed dental prostheses will be discussed, along with recommendations for everyday practice.