One-piece implant-supported overdenture in fully edentulous patients: Report of two cases

Dental implants with a reduced diameter can be placed in regions that lack adequate bone volume enabling functional and aesthetic oral rehabilitation without the complicated bone augmentation procedures. This article describes surgical and prosthetic procedures used in oral rehabilitation using Straumann ® one-piece Mini Implants (2.4-mm diameter with Optiloc ® prosthetic connection system) in two fully edentulous women aged 57 and 74. Both patients presented with severe ridge resorption. Ten one-piece mini dental implants (six on maxillary arch and four on mandibular arch) were placed in each patient to support new complete overdentures. Both patients were delighted with the results and regained their social lives. In addition, stabilized dentures allowed the patients to regain fundamental functions of the mouth: chewing and verbal (speech) and non-verbal (smiling) communication without the fear or difficulty experienced while wearing dentures that can move. In conclusion, mini implants offer an efficient, economical, and less invasive solution, especially for edentulous patients with atrophic bone structure or who cannot undergo complex surgical procedures.