Implants:  Placement and Restoration

 

 

Chairman
Roy C. Blake III, D.D.S., M.S.D.
Co-Chairman
Ron Seecharan, D.M.D.
Co-Chairmen, Surgery

Kim Gandhi, D.D.S.

 

Dr. Blake received his D.D.S. degree in 1981 and his M.S.D. degree in 1984 from Indiana School of Dentistry, having majored in Maxillofacial Prosthetics and minored in Dental
Materials. Focusing exclusively on Prosthetic dentistry, Dr. Blake has maintained a private practice in West Palm Beach and Jupiter, Florida for over 24 years. During his career, he
has served as Associate Clinical Instructor at Indiana School of Dentistry (1981 -1984),
Chairman of Removable Prosthodontics and Perio-Prosthetics at the Atlantic Coast Dental Research Clinic (ACDRC), and President of both the ACDRC and the Central Palm Beach County Dental Association. Sections of the Research Clinic previously taught by Dr. Blake include “Removable Prosthetics”, “Perio/Prosthetics”, and “Prosthetic Dentistry for the Implant Patient”.

 

COURSE: Implants: The Surgical and Prosthetic Management of the Endosseous Root Form Patient

This is a new, one-year course designed to teach the general dentist how to place and restore implants. Because implants should be prosthetically driven, the course focuses solely on the placement and restoration of endosseous root form implants and does not involve complicated implant placements, sinus lifts, nerve repositioning, or sub-periosteal implants.

 

The philosophy of the course is comprehensive treatment planning and is structured to take a patient from the initial exam to completion. Emphasis will be on diagnosis, stent fabrication, placement of implants, and the subsequent restoration of different types of implants. Two highly trained and skilled surgeons will assist with implant placement. Students will be involved in all or part of the treatment.

 

The course comprises several components. Lecture content includes explanation of the implant process, ranging from the restoration of a single implant to the reconstruction of the edentulous arch, as well as aspects of successful treatment planning. Clinical slides show various phases of treatment. Classroom discussions highlight different implant systems, including external hex, internal hex, and morris taper. Finally, hands-on models facilitate the understanding of implant components.

 

This course also covers practical aspects of dentistry, such as practical fixed and removable prosthetics, connecting teeth and implants, diagnosing problems and problem solving.

 

Specific Areas to Be Covered

• Abutment Selection
  
  • Specific criteria for abutment selection 
  • Soft tissue depth, implant angulation, and force vectors affecting abutment selection
  • Prosthetic component differences among specific implant brands
• Soft Tissue Models
  
  • The importance of a soft tissue model
  • Instructing the lab to fabricate a soft tissue model
• Stents
  
  • Determine whether a stent is necessary
  • Selecting the best stent for the different types of implant supported restorations 
• Occlusion
  • Determining optimal occlusion for an implant supported crown
  • The occlusal scheme’s influence on bone maintenance/loss 
• Important Implant Questions:
  • Should teeth and implants be splinted?
  • When should copings and interlocks be used?
  • How many implants are necessary to successfully restore an arch?
  • How long can an implant cantilever extend?
  • When should cement be used versus screws for crowns?
  • When should a three-unit bridge be used versus one single implant?
  • When should the following types of implant restorations be selected
    • Implant supported crowns
    • Overdentures
    • Hybrids (Fixed/Detachable)
    • Latched Attachments (Milled and Non-Milled)