SMART 1 Milled Implant Bar Overdentures: Providing Stability for Edentulous Patients

Today, there are several treatment alternatives available for fully edentulous patients. This is a vast improvement over the traditional denture options that were the only option several years ago. The implant-supported milled bar overdenture is one option that offers long-term success with a wide variety of benefits for patients.

Advancements in implant technology ensure that clinicians can offer their edentulous patients predictable and safe placement of implants. Study after study shows that bone health is maintained by replacing teeth with dental implants. Restoring with an implant-supported overdenture provides a high level of dental function and improved stability over traditional dentures.

SMART 1 Milled Implant Bars

One of the challenges in the past for implant-supported bar-retained overdentures was the casting method of fabricating the metal framework. After the frameworks were cast and sent for try-in, they would need to be sectioned and then sent back to the lab to be soldered. In addition, casting the bars can create fractures, cracks, and problems with fit.

Computer Numerical Controlled Milling (CNC)

SMART 1 milled implant bars and overdenture eliminated the issues found with cast frameworks. SMART 1 implant bars are milled from a solid block of medical-grade titanium.

The milling process is done using computer numerically controlled (CNC) milling. This technology is only available in about 5% of the dental labs in the United States. Using cutting-edge milling machining has helped to set SMART 1 milled implant bars above the rest.

The benefits of CNC milling include:

Benefits of SMART 1 Milled Implant Bars

After receiving an accurate impression, the bar is designed using computer-aided software (CAD) and is milled using the CNC milling system. This framework is milled from a block and will offer a passive fit with extreme accuracy.

No soldering or welding will be necessary allowing for a stronger implant bar. SMART 1 implant bars offer the following benefits:

The SMART 1 implant bar can support both Locator and Hader Bar systems. The milled bar is designed to distribute loads evenly between implants. This offers the patient an improved overall feeling of stability.

Overdenture Fabrication

The overdenture is fabricated with a Cobalt-Chromium (Co-Cr) substructure that adds further durability and retention. Co-Cr alloy offers high-strength corrosion resistance and is biocompatible. The overdenture offers improved stability and a much-improved degree of function over a traditional denture.

In most cases, the overdenture is designed to attach to the implant bar spanning the length of the edentulous ridge.

This helps to distribute the occlusal forces evenly throughout the implants. The overdenture movements are minimized both vertically as well as horizontally and cross-arch stabilization is achieved.

Like conventional dentures, overdentures can be removed by the patient. However, the mechanical attachment of the overdenture to the implant bar offers a far superior retention level resulting in improved function and quality of life. While the milled implant bar overdenture offers a big improvement over conventional dentures, they still need to be removed for proper cleaning.

Overdenture Fabrication

Deciding how to treat an edentulous patient depends on several factors.

These may include:

The overdenture offers a great solution for many patients; however, having an overdenture that needs to be removed may not be an ideal situation, prompting many patients to consider an implant-fixed prosthesis.

In most cases, once the implants have been placed, clinicians can help to transition patients who no longer want their removable overdenture and move them over to a fixed prosthesis that can only be removed by the dentist. This is a great option if the patient’s oral situation improves, finances improve, or the patient’s needs change. While an overdenture is far superior to a conventional denture, a fixed restoration offers an even higher level of retention and function.

SMART 1 Overdenture Indications for Use

The SMART 1 implant milled bar overdenture needs at least 15mm to 17mm of intra-arch space. The variance is dependent upon the type of attachment that is used. If the distance from the implant platform to the occlusal table is less than 15mm, the case will need to be restored with a porcelain-fused-to-metal prosthesis. In addition, the patient will need a minimum height of 8mm from the bar/attachment to the incisal edge for an overdenture to be applicable.

To submit a case to Burbank Dental Lab, please provide an open tray implant level impression. In addition, a verification jig and bite blocks are recommended prior to the final bar being fabricated.

For patients suffering from edentulism, SMART 1 implant-supported milled bar overdentures offer an excellent option that can meet the needs of many patients. It provides the benefits of a removable with the stability of a fixed prosthesis.

For some patients, the overdenture can provide an excellent transition prosthesis. The key to excellence in cases such as these is in creating restorations that offer precision, strength, and longevity to ensure edentulous patients have a secure, well-fitting, comfortable prosthesis.

Call or chat today to get started on your next SMART 1 implant milled bar overdenture.