implants - international magazine of oral implantology

I clinical technique _ restoration removal with trepidation can be reduced to a minor inconven- ience. By minimising the diameter of the access holes, weincreasetheprobabilitythattheprosthesiscanbere- turned to the patient after dealing with the reason for removal. Once the prosthesis has been removed from themouth,therearetwooptions.Firstly,wecouldcon- sidertheabutment/prosthesisasasingleitem.Afterin- spection and cleaning, the prosthesis can be replaced. Had the abutment screw become loose, then the grain structureofthescrewmayhavebecomeelongatedand thescrewshouldbereplaced. Thesecondoptionisseparatingtheabutmentfrom thecrownorbridge.Whentheycannotbeseparatedby mechanical means, they can be separated by gentle heatinginafurnace.Slowlyheattolessthan200°Cfor fiveminutes,thentheabutmentandprosthesisshould separateveryeasily.Allowtocooltoroomtemperature slowly,theninspectporcelainfordefectsbeforereturn- ingtothepatient._ 34 I implants2_2011 Fig. 7a Fig. 7b Fig. 6a Fig. 6b Fig. 6c Fig. 5c Fig. 11a Fig. 11b Fig. 8b Fig. 9 Fig. 10 Fig. 8a Dr Scott Davis graduated from the University of Sydney in 1984 with a Bachelor of Dental Science degree and completed his Master of Dental Science degree in Prosthodontics in 1993 at the University ofWesternAustralia.He worked as a senior lecturer in Restorative Dentistry.Since 1997,he has worked in a private specialist practice.Dr Davis can be con- tacted at scott@davisdental.com.au. _about the author implants