Stabilizing Existing Dentures
with MTI-Monorail™ Transitional Implants

Using MTI-Monorail Transitional Implants to stabilize a patient’s existing denture is a great way to "jump start" your implant practice

If you are having difficulty making dental implants a routine part of your treatment, the concept of using MTI-Monorail Transitional Implants to stabilize a patient’s existing denture is a great way to "jump start" your implant practice. In fact, most practice management consultants will tell you that internal marketing of your own patients will create a tremendous amount of new dental treatment.

Here’s our recommendation. Contact all your patients who are wearing full dentures, including those who seem to be satisfied with their existing dentures. Make them this offer as suggested by practice management consultant G.I. Johnson, "Would you be interested in a minimally invasive treatment that would slow down the resorption of your ridge and temporarily stabilize your denture for $1,500?" You are allowing your patient to have a relatively inexpensive trial run to experience the "feel" and advantages of a more stable denture, that will permit them a year from now to return to the present situation if they wish. Once the comparison is made, very few patients will want to go in reverse.

Do the math yourself. For example, if 20 denture patients accepted your proposition, one year later you would probably have a large percentage, maybe 18-19 patients, who agree to implant-supported overdentures. Some dentists may hit the jackpot with 1-2 patients requesting fixed implant-supported prosthesis instead. Presenting transitional implants in this manner is less intimidating to the patient both financially and emotionally and will open their minds to accepting more long-term solutions.

Here’s the technique. It’s simple. Six to eight MTI-Monorail implants are placed along the crest of the edentulous ridge. Using prosthetic components from our MTI-Monorail System, an acrylic/metal splint is fabricated and cemented to the MTI implants. The patient’s existing denture is hollowed out under the teeth, and the denture is retrofitted using soft reline material. The patient is shown how to insert and remove their dentures, as well as how to clean under the splint.

The same protocol may be used at the time of surgery when placing conventional implants so that the patient is never without teeth and can return to his/her daily lifestyle almost immediately. During the surgical healing period and the time necessary to complete the final prosthesis, they will have a stable temporary restoration that will be comfortable, enable them to function well and will be pleasingly cosmetic.

Recommended Reference Articles
• Rossein, K. Boris III, F., “Stabilizing a Full Denture with a Transitional Implant-Supported Splint”, Contemporary Esthetics Restorative Practice Vol. 5, No. 3, March 2001, pgs. 68-76
• Bohsali, K., Simon, H. kan, J., Redd. M., “Modular Transitional Implants to Support the Interim Maxillary Overdenture”, The Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry Vol. 20, No. 10, October, 1999, pgs. 975-984

See also:
Bone Augmentation with MTI-Monorail Transitional Implants
Replacement of Congenitally Missing Laterals with MTI-Monorail Transitional Implants
Fixed Provisional Restorations with MTI-Monorail Transitional Implants
Orthodontic Anchorage with MTI-Monorail Transitional Implants
Repairing Broken Bridges with MTI-Monorail Transitional Implants

Continuing Education:
CE for MTI-Monorail™ Transitional Implant Courses