Makihira et al.

Int Chin J Dent 2008; 8: 39-41.

The pre-surgical modification of the provisional over-denture
through 3-dimensional image analysis supports the mini dental
implant treatment: A clinical report
Seicho Makihira, DDS, PhD,a Wataru Mizumachi, DDS,b Kae Harada, DDS, PhD,b Saiji
Shimoe, BA, PhD,c Shinsuke Sadamori, DDS, PhD,b and Hiroki Nikawa, DDS, PhDaa

Department of Medical Design and Engineering, School of Oral Health Science, Hiroshima UniversitybFaculty of Dentistry, Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences,cHiroshima University, and Department of Oral Basic Science, School of Oral Health Science,
Hiroshima University Faculty of Dentistry, Hiroshima, Japan
Mini implants have been improved and established as an immediate-loading implant system to retain edentulous
mandibular denture for short and long term. A 3-dimensional imaging is a useful computer analysis based on thecomputed tomography data for implant pre-surgical planning. This clinical report describes: 1) Mini implantsystem enhanced support the stability of edentulous mandibular denture. 2) Preparation of the provisional
over-denture together with the accurate diagnosis by 3-dimensional image could shorten the surgery and fixingtime. 3) While the patient used the provisional over-denture, the proper holes for housings in the final denture
could be formed at the minimum of size in the dental laboratory. (Int Chin J Dent 2008; 8: 39-41.)
Key Words: mini implant, provisional denture, 3-dimensinal image.

Introduction
Dental implant systems have been developed. Recently, implant-retained over-denture has been a standard
option of prostheses in fully edentulous jaw. Mini implant system was developed to provisionally support thestability of the edentulous mandible denture by immediate-loading.1 However, improved system, which surface
can acquire osseointegration, has been used as fixtures for long-term prosthesis stabilization.2
The software such as Simplant and Dentascan can show reformatted image with 3-dimensional
reconstructions of computed tomography data, which is helpful to precisely diagnose the positions, the numbers
and the length of implants.3 In mini implant treatment, this 3-dimensional image enables the preparation of thehousing holes in the final or provisional over-denture before surgery, leading curtailment of postoperatively
prosthetic follow-up.

Clinical Report
An 81-year-old male patient desired more durable mandible dentures. Edentulous denture, which included themetal-reinforced framework, was newly fabricated (Figs. 1 and 2).

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Fig. 1. Intra-oral view of the mandible. No inflammation was observed on the alveolar ridge.
Fig. 2. Edentulous mandible denture. Conventional edentulous denture including metal-reinforced framework
was newly fabricated, instead of the acrylic resin denture previously fabricated in the same hospital.

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Int Chin J Dent 2008; 8: 39-41.

The patient was satisfied with durability of new dentures, and with the mastication and articulation. However,in meanwhile, the patient desired more stability of mandible denture, since the opportunities of the speech inpublic increased. We proposed mini implant-retained over-dentures, utilizing the present dentures, to enhance
the stability of mandible denture. The position replaced for four replacements were accurately diagnosed by the3-dimensional image analysis (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3.
A 3-dimensional image analysis.
The positions replaced for four mini
implants were accurately
diagnosed through the3-dimensional image analysis.
The DICOM data obtained by CT
was reformatted by Simplant
software (Materialize, N.V.,
Leuven, Belgium) to 3-dimensional
reconstruction.

The provisional acrylic resin denture was fabricated, in which the housing holes were prepared in advance.
The four implants were replaced close to the predicted positions (Figs. 4 and 5) and the housings with O-rings
were retrofitted to the provisional over-denture in less time (Fig. 6).

45Fig. 4. Intra-oral view after mini implant insertion. The operation of mini implant replacements was performed
under the local anesthesia. Pilot drills were carried out with external irrigation of normal saline for osteotomy of themini implants insertions between left and right mental foramen in the mandible ridge. In this case, Mandibular
Sendax IMTEC mini dental implants (IMTEC, Ardmore, OK, USA, diameter; 1.8 mm, length; 13 mm) were used for
all replacements.
Fig. 5. Panoramic X-ray photograph after mini implant replacements. No fractures of mini implant were observed.

67Fig. 6. Provisional edentulous mandible denture with the housings. The provisional denture was fabricated withthe acrylic resin alone except the artificial teeth, based on the present denture. The housings with O-rings wereretrofitted to the provisional denture in which the housing holes were prepared in advance. To add these four
housings with O-ring into the holes in the provisional over-denture, the composite resin was used (Unifast, GC,Tokyo, Japan).

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Makihira et al.

Int Chin J Dent 2008; 8: 39-41.

Fig. 7. Modification of edentulous mandible denture including metal-reinforced framework for prosthetic fixation.
Four weeks later, stable mucosa and alveolar ridge were observed. The final denture was modified to form theminimum housing holes in the dental laboratory, and then was fixed as well as the provisional denture was done
just after surgery.

The final denture with the minimum housing holes formed in the dental laboratory was fixed in order to add
the housing with O-ring (Figs. 7 and 8).

Fig. 8.
Definitive prosthesis in the oral cavity. The stabilityof the new prosthesis retained by four mini implants
was more favorable than the previous denture
without retainers, during speech for the patient.

Discussion
The 3-dimensional image can provide to the preoperative planning information, which inspect the bony
anatomy and quality of the alveolar ridge, leading the decision of the proper position, length and diameter of theimplants, and additionally the following prosthetic treatment.4,5 However, unexpected changes to do on thenumbers and locations of implants may be rarely required in operation. By fabricating the provisional denture,dentists can not only cope with the unexpected changes of surgery procedures scheduled, but also exploit thepre-treatment outcome analysis by 3-dimensional image for postoperative prosthetic follow-up of mini implant
to the full.6
Acknowledgment
This study was supported in part by a Grant-in Aid for Scientific Research Research (No. 18689046, 2006-2008) fromJapan Society for the Promotion of Science.

References
1. Balkin BE, Steflik DE, Naval F. Mini-dental implant insertion with the auto-advance technique for ongoing applications. J OralImplantol 2001; 27: 32-7.
2. Bulard RA, Vance JB. Multi-clinic evaluation using mini-dental implants for long-term denture stabilization: a preliminary
biometric evaluation. Compend Contin Educ Dent 2005; 26: 892-7.
3. Mupparapu M, Singer SR. Implant imaging for the dentist. J Can Dent Assoc 2004; 70: 32.
4. Rosenfeld AL, Mandelaris GA, Tardieu PB. Prosthetically directed implant placement using computer software to ensure
precise placement and predictable prosthetic outcomes. Part 1: diagnostics, imaging, and collaborative accountability. Int J
Periodontics Restorative Dent 2006; 26: 215-21.
5. Nishimura M, Sadamori S, Suehiro F, Sekiya K Nishimura H, Hamada T. Importance of diagnosis by computer tomographyfor mini dental implants planning: A clinical report. Int Chin J Dent 2007; 7: 31-4.
6. Cho SC, Shetty S, Froum S, Elian N, Tarnow D. Fixed and removable provisional options for patients undergoing implant
treatment. Compend Contin Educ Dent 2007; 28: 604-8.

Correspondence to:Dr. Seicho Makihira
Department of Medical Design and Engineering, Division of Oral Health Engineering,School of Oral Health Science, Hiroshima University Faculty of Dentistry
1-2-3 Kasumi Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, JapanFax +81-82-257-5797 E-mail: seicho@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Received July 30, 2008. September 5, 2008.
Copyright ©2008 by the International Chinese Journal of Dentistry.

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