Overdentures on natural roots: an alternative to osseointegrated implants

Abstract

For a long time, the tooth roots were used to increase the retention and stability of removable dentures. With the development of osseointegrated implants and the predictability of this treatment modality, the use of roots with retention device is less and less done. However, the addition of retention devices on the natural roots that would be extracted can still be a therapeutic option especially for patients who cannot or do not wish to submit oneself to surgery for placement of osseointe- grated implants. Objective and case relate: This case re- port describes the development of a prosthetic rehabili- tation of a patient that couldn’t receive osseointegrated implants because she had been submitted to radiation therapy recently. Thus, a maxillary complete denture and a mandibular removable partial denture were done with additional retention to the edentulous ridge by means of spherical retention devices (o’rings) installed on the tooth roots. The patient related excellent reten- tion and stability of the new dentures, even though the few support tissue. Final considerations: The use of the tooth roots with retention devices was an efficient way to increase the retention and stability of the dentures and, also the patient comfort.