Rehabilitation of a patient with crossed occlusion using mandibular implant-supported fixed and maxillary Kennedy class IV removable dental prostheses: A case report

Abstract

The term, 'crossed occlusion' implies clinical situation in which the residual teeth in one arch have no contact with those in the antagonistic arch, resulting in the collapse of occlusal vertical dimension. The treatment goal of this pathologic condition is restoration of the collapsed vertical dimension and stabilization of abnormal mandibular position. Previously, konus removable prostheses or tooth supported overdentures were suggested to solve crossed occlusion. Nowadays, dental implants have been used for definitive support to solve this problem. In this case report, a 65 years old female patient had a crossed occlusion, in which the maxillary posterior residual teeth and mandibular anterior residual teeth cross. Interim removable and fixed dental prostheses were used to confirm the proper vertical and horizontal jaw relation. After that, the mandibular posterior edentulous region was restored with implant-supported fixed dental prostheses. Computer tomography guided implant surgery was performed according to the concept of the restoration-driven implant placement. The maxillary anterior edentulous region was restored with Kennedy class IV removable prosthesis, considering the patient's economic status. The patient's jaw position and prostheses have been well maintained at the follow-up after 6 months of definitive restoration. The antero-posterior crossed occlusion problems appeared to be effectively solved with the combination of removable in one arch and implant-supported fixed prostheses in the other.