Figure 1
BruxZir® Full-Arch Implant Prosthesis
An esthetic, more durable alternative to the fixed hybrid denture
Jack A. Hahn, DDS
Figure 1 | If your practice is anything like mine, you’re treating more and more patients who can no longer tolerate a loose-fitting denture or do not want to deal with a removable appliance after having their “hopeless” dentition extracted. Providing the highest level of stability and function possible, the fixed hybrid denture has been the best available treatment option for these patients for some time.
However, acrylic hybrid dentures are subject to wear over time, from teeth separating from the body of the prosthesis to outright fracture. For practitioners who stand by their work, this can become costly as repair expenses add up, to say nothing of the frustration for the patient and potential harm for the reputation of the dental practice. This has no doubt created a desire for a more durable solution.
As a result of innovations in dental CAD/CAM technology, full-arch implant restorations can now be milled from a single block of solid zirconia. The BruxZir Full-Arch Implant Prosthesis provides patients with the same superior comfort, stability, and chewing capability as the fixed hybrid denture, but with a monolithic construction that avoids chipping, stains, and fractures. In addition, it’s biocompatible and lifelike, exhibiting remarkable translucency and color similar to natural dentition. I made the switch to monolithic zirconia a few years ago and haven’t had a patient return to my office with a damaged appliance since then.
When treatment planning such a restoration, it’s important to select an implant system that maximizes clinician control during insertion, establishes high primary stability in all bone types, and eases positioning around the span of the edentulous ridge. I designed the Hahn™ Tapered Implant with these precise considerations in mind. Its degree of taper and wide range of lengths and diameters allow for more flexibility in anatomically restricted areas. In full-arch extraction cases, the implant’s sharp, angled threads fully engage the lingual wall and help maintain the proper distance from the buccal aspect.
Collaborating with an industry-leading dental lab like Glidewell Laboratories has not only helped me develop an implant that is as easy to restore as it is to place, it has created cost savings that can be passed down to the doctor. Glidewell Laboratories offers 20% off all restorations delivered over Hahn Tapered Implants, including the BruxZir Full-Arch Implant Prosthesis. Their product offerings address challenges faced by clinicians daily to meet patient expectations for an efficient, dependable outcome.
About the Author
A pioneer in the field of implant dentistry, Jack Hahn, DDS, has been placing and restoring implants for 45 years. Dr. Hahn developed the NobelReplace® dental implant system for Nobel Biocare and oversaw the design of the Hahn™ Tapered Implant. For more information, visit www.hahnimplant.com.
For more information, contact:
Glidewell Laboratories
888-303-3975
www.glidewelldental.com
