Facial Profile Support by Fixed or Removable Implant Superstructures

Tooth loos and the resulting atrophy of the alveolar crest are causing loos of vertical height. A change in the profile with loos of the lip contour is recognized as sign for an old person.22 edentulous patients were analysed for the soft-tissue profile and phonation before and after implant prosthetic rehabilitation. 6 patients received a fixed reconstruction and 16 patients were treated with a removable bridge in the upper and lower jaw.The orthodontic profile analysis was used to determine the change of the position of the following points: Subnasale, Labrale superior, Labrale inferior, Stomium superior, Stomium inferius, Submentale. As reference points Glabella und Cervicale were used after the determination of the bite.After implant prosthetic rehabilitation in all cases the profile was developed ventral. The minimum and maximum values are shown together with mean value and median. The incorporation of implant-borne superstructure leads to a support of the lip profile for all patients.The reconstruction with fixed superstructure showed a reduced increase of the profile in comparison to the removable bridges. An individual resin base could improve the vestibular contour.The phonation showed better results with the removable superstructures due to less necessary lab adaptations in comparison to the fixed bridges. Keywords: removable fixed implant restoration, profile support, vertical dimension, orthodontic profile analysis