A new concept of overdentures with telescope crowns on osseointegrated implants

Primary splinting of fixtures with bar attachments has proven to be clinically effective for overdentures on osseointegrated implants in the edentulous mandible. However, in vitro investigations indicate that a more favorable force transfer to the individual fixtures can be attained by secondary splinting of four implants with tapered telescope crowns, compared to primary splinting with rigid or jointed bar attachments. Moreover, in contrast to jointed attachments, the telescope crowns ensure a stable denture position. These results underscore the need to clinically test telescope crowns as anchors for overdentures on osseointegrated implants. Telescope crowns on four implants allow an optimal restorative concept of overdentures with the bridgelike design of the removable suprastructure.