Exposed Threads: How Do I Polish Down the Threads without Overheating the Dental Implant?
Dr. C asks:
I placed a Nobel Biocare Replace Select tapered implant fixture in the #31 edentulous site [mandibular right second molar; 47] 6 months prior. The implant fixture is osseointegrated without any radiographic radiolucent lesion or mobility. I am now getting ready to restore the implant fixture. One complication that I have is that on the lingual side, the gingiva and bone have receded and the first 2 threads are exposed. I would just like to polish down the exposed threads and to restore as is without bone or soft tissue grafting. What is the best way to polish down these threads without overheating the implant or producing tissue damage. What burs or diamonds should I use? Any precautions that I should take?
2 Comments on Exposed Threads: How Do I Polish Down the Threads without Overheating the Dental Implant?
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Carlos Boudet, DDS
1/17/2011
The threads need to be removed with a medium or fine football shaped diamond and copious water spray.
Then you can slowly reduce the surface roughness with different metal polishers to the desired surface smoothness.
There are several companies that make them such as Brasseler and Axis.
If you are planning to cover the surface with the restoration, it would not require a high polish.
Your complication may have resulted from placing the implant too close to the cortical bone at the crest and eliminating the blood supply to the cortical plate. The bone then died to a lower level where it had some blood supply to maintain its vitality.
Good luck!
bill
1/21/2011
the above message is great, the only thing i would add is that temp it for a while before you finalize it. To make sure the recession does not creep up again.
