“Elucidating the Problem of Pier Abutment through the Use of a Fixed Movable Prosthesis – A Clinical Case Report”

Abstract

Many times a dental practitioner comes across a situation where his clinical dexterity and knowledge can make the difference between a patient being delivered a removable or a fixed prosthesis. One such clinical situation is existence of a pier abutment in between two edentulous areas. Managing such a partial edentulous situation with a fixed partial denture can be successfully accomplished by those who understand basic principles of using a non-rigid connector, custom made in the laboratory. Clinical application of mandibular movements on the occlusal anatomy of artificial crowns is an essential component in such cases besides adequate education and motivation of the patient. This article in the form of a clinical case report describes the management of pier abutment case over a period of 5 years with a fixed movable prosthesis. A custom made design in the laboratory allows the pier abutment to support two different prostheses on either side, without undergoing any retentive or biological failure of the abutment. Moreover the flexible design also allows the patient to benefit from fixed prosthesis rather than a conventional removable prosthesis.