Use of polyvinyl siloxane to maintain peri-implant submucosal contours on removal of screw-retained implant-supported restorations

Abstract

When submucosal screw-retained implant-supported restorations are removed for a short period, the soft-tissue contours collapse, which can affect treatment expediency and patient comfort when restorations are reinserted. This technique involves the fabrication of a polyvinyl siloxane submucosal template to help mitigate the soft-tissue collapse and its potential sequelae. This method of maintaining peri-implant soft-tissue contours is achieved through a quick succession of steps: removing the screw-retained implant prosthesis, drying the soft tissue thoroughly, injecting light-bodied fast-set polyvinyl siloxane directly into the implant fixture of the internal connection implants and the screw channel for external connection implants together with the remaining submucosal areas, allowing the polyvinyl siloxane submucosal template to polymerize undisturbed, and removing it when ready to replace the prosthesis.