Combination of short implants and a unilateral distal-extension implant-retained partial denture in case of severely reduced ridge height mandibular posterior region: 12-year follow-up

Abstract

This case report describes the treatment of a woman who lost mandibular posterior teeth. The bilateral alveolar ridges showed severe tissue defects. She complained of the discomfort of a partial denture connected by a lingual bar and wished for fixed prostheses. However, the height of the alveolar bone was insufficient to place standard-length implants. In addition, she rejected bone augmentation and the usage of biomaterials. Therefore, short implants were placed in both sides of atrophic alveolar ridges without tissue augmentation. Conventional crowns were placed on the right side on three short implants, and a unilateral distal-extension partial implantretained partial denture (IRPD) using magnetic attachment was placed on the left side using the two available short implants. The patient was satisfied with the outcome of this treatment for 12 years even though a clasp was added to the removable partial denture at 11 years due to the wear of the magnet keepers. The combination of short implants and an IRPD using magnetic attachment is effective for patients with a severely atrophic posterior mandibular from the aspect of minimal intervention.