A case of implant-supported removable partial denture in a patient with mandibular unilateral residual tooth

In removable partial dentures, abutment teeth are essential for support, maintenance, and stability of partial dentures, and are an important factor in the fabrication of functional dentures. If the number of periodontally sound abutments is sufficient and they are located on both sides, it will be easy to manufacture functional dentures with good support, maintenance, and stability. But on the contrary, if the number of teeth is insufficient or if they are located on one side, it is biomechanically disadvantageous and relatively difficult to make functional denture. On the other hand, recently, implant-supported removable dentures, which reinforce the three elements of maintenance, support, and stability by using implant surveyed crown, have been frequently selected as treatment plans. In particular, by adding an implant surveyed crown when only a small number of residual teeth remain, mastication efficiency, esthetics, patient comfort, and pronunciation can be improved. In this case, bilateral posterior extension partial denture was fabricated using implant surveyed crown as abutments by placing implants in the premolars area opposite to the residual tooth unilaterally in the mandible. As a result, the asymmetry of the abutment was resolved, and the maintenance and stability of the denture was achieved. (J Korean Acad Prosthodont 2022;60:19-28)