Designed for general dentists and specialists alike, this seminar will provide practical information on how to successfully incorporate removable prosthodontics into your practice with an emphasis on implant overdenture treatment. It will feature a series of presentations, including:

A Simplified Approach to Implant Overdenture Treatment of the Edentulous Mandible. Implant-retrained overdentures are one of the most cost-effective and appreciated prosthetic treatment modalities. This lecture will address the rationale for their use and highlight how to effectively select and utilize attachments in treating the edentulous patient. Important aspects that can reduce the post-insertion costs and maintenance will be covered, including the position and the number of implants (knowing when not to do a two-implant overdenture), the type of attachments (ball versus locator), and occlusal concepts that contribute to stabilizing the opposing maxillary complete denture.

Implant Diagnosis, Treatment Planning, and Surgical Placement for the Edentulous Patient. Careful diagnosis and treatment planning are critical to implant success from a clinical as well as a patient perspective. Case studies will demonstrate step-by-step protocols for planning implant positioning and determining the requirements for a retentive or supportive system. There also will be a discussion on the economics of implant treatment for the edentulous patient as well as the opportunity cost of poor planning.

Hands-On Lab. The afternoon will provide the opportunity for hands-on work to explore the scope of treatment planning and prosthesis fabrication involved in implants for patients with an edentulous mandible. Participants will complete three exercises, learning to:

• Treatment plan implant selection and placement with radiographs and diagnostic casts.
• Make a final impression for an implant-retained overdenture using the Locator Attachment.