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Ball Abutment Heads

posted in Treatment Planning & Complications

« Sinus Graft Augmentation | Mitral Valve Prolapse »

Several times now I have tried to treatment plan immediate dental
implant placement ( not immediate load ) of two dental implants (6.0mm Nobel Replace dental implants)  in the
lower canine region only to find that the natural root diameter just
exceeds 5mm.

I end up having to extract the canines/bone graft/wait 4-6 months/etc. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to have the overdenture ball abutments available for the 6.0mm Nobel Replace dental implant since the lower canines often have a larger diameter root.Any thoughts?

6 Responses to “ Ball Abutment Heads ”

• jstacntrydr April 11th, 2006

  
  

  Don’t you use Locators yet? I find them superior to ball attachments in every way.

• dokchop April 11th, 2006

  
  

  Yep, I use Locator in some cases, but they ALSO don’t make an attachment for the 6.0mm Replace implant.
  Is it because these companies feel that the larger attachment would be too large (thus weakening the denture base/leave no room for denture teeth, etc.)?
  …….actually, I would probably feel much more comfortable using the less resilient Locator attachment in conjuncture with 2 hefty 6.0mm implants in the canine areas.

• yianni April 12th, 2006

  
  

  i have done a few cases like this. I am able to place usually a 15mm by 5mm and graft the socket with some autogenous bone to fill the gap. i try to place the implants 2-3mm deeper(less gap between implant and bony wall) than ideal since soft tissue esthetics is not a major concern on that area. This technique will also give you more space interocclusally for the prosthetic components of ball attachment.(needs more space than locator). The implants are also protected from micromovement by the interim prostheses. Then in 3-4 months i restore them. This technique works very well on the lower and although i have not done thousands it seems to get a desirable outcome. I hope this is helpful

• alvaro ordonez April 14th, 2006

  
  

  I have been doing overdentures for more than ten years now, any design or type of it, I have done it, there is nothing like the locators, I am not using balls anymore unless using mini implants.
  you know what? a friendly advice? keep on doing what you are doing, put the implant in the extraction site, grafts the space and wait! inmediate placement and loading is fun but can be trouble, why would you want to start all over again? I also believe the 6 mm is a little wide for the canine area, 5 will make it just as nice!
  good luck!

• Raymond Kimsey April 15th, 2006

  
  

  I would just level the bone done thereby giving the implant more basal bone and less socket. By doing this you also have more room for the locator and supporting resin.

• Raymond Kimsey April 15th, 2006

  
  

  Sorry I mean down not done

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