Total edentulism is a condition in which the patient is missing all teeth in the upper and/or lower jaw.
Older individuals are the most common patients, as they have lost teeth throughout their lives, often having had bridges and dentures.
Total edentulism is less common in adolescents and younger adults. In this group, teeth are often lost due to untreated periodontitis or injury.
HOW DOES TOTAL EDENTULISM APPEAR AND WHAT ARE ITS CONSEQUENCES?
Total edentulism in patients without atrophy of the jawbone and pneumatization of the alveolar bone is an ideal indication for simple implant placement.
Unfortunately, most patients without teeth experience atrophy of the jawbone.
Interestingly, implants, in addition to serving as support for crowns or dentures, play an important role in preserving bone and acting to prevent jawbone atrophy.
In older patients characterized by a long-term lack of multiple or all teeth, facial collapse is frequently present. This unpleasant occurrence visibly disrupts the appearance of the lower third of the face.
Atrophy of the alveolar bone in the lower jaw, where teeth were once implanted, causes the chin to protrude and visually shortens the face (so-called witch’s chin).
When a patient is edentulous, they need to consult an implantologist or maxillofacial surgeon as soon as possible to initiate the necessary therapy.
WHAT TYPE OF PROSTHETIC RESTORATION IS BEST IN THE CASE OF TOTAL EDENTULISM?
Patients who want to replace the absence of all teeth with implants generally opt for fixed restorations.
It has been empirically determined that 6–8 implants placed in an edentulous jaw can support a bridge of 12–14 crowns.
The number of implants depends on their length and diameter, as well as the arrangement of teeth in the opposing jaw.
Unlike natural teeth, fixed prosthetic restorations on implants can include two distal or mesial extensions. It is important to note that the most distal implants bear significant pressure from chewing forces, which is particularly important if there are molars, implants, or fixed prosthetic restorations in that region of the opposing jaw.
It is important to mention that at the Belgrade Center clinic, only the highest quality implants from renowned global manufacturers such as Nobel Biocare and Straumann are used.
Their application ensures the best correlation between product and service, leading to the highest results in oral and implant surgical interventions.
TOTAL EDENTULISM AND JAW ATROPHY
Jaw atrophy can affect the entire jaw or certain parts of it. It most commonly occurs in the area of the molars. In the upper jaw, it can involve the maxillary sinus dropping into the alveolar ridge (bone pneumatization), while in the lower jaw, atrophy is a result of long-term use of a partial denture.
Implant treatment for total edentulism in cases of jaw atrophy can be performed in two ways: through bone grafting or by applying the all-on-4 principle.
ALL-ON-4
The all-on-4 procedure involves placing four implants in the anterior region of the upper and/or lower jaw and creating a temporary denture immediately upon placement of the implants.
After about three months, a prosthetic restoration is constructed, known as a hybrid denture, which includes a metal structure for reinforcement. On this structure, twelve crowns are fabricated.
