Implant
Impression
Technique

Case Report #1

Case Report #2

Case Report #3

Micro-Lok
Testimonial

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE ?

Case Report 1:

Thirty year old male presented for dental implant following sports injury resulting in fracture of natural tooth with subsequent replacement by immediate implant (Micro-Lok TPS cylinder implant- 4 mm X 13 mm).

This is the 5-year follow-up radiograph of a crown placed on a Micro-Lok cylinder implant. Note the gap at the top of the implant. Why did this occur? The crown is not loose. What might happen to this implant case ? Obviously the potential bending or fracture of the abutment screw, creating a restorative problem.

What if I mentioned that this has not changed in appearance since the day the crown was placed by the restorative dentist five years ago. The problem was created by the restorative dentist not taking a radiograph confirming the proper seating of the impression transfer coping prior to taking the impression. The transfer coping had not been properly seated and the impression was taken thereby placing the transfer coping margin at the TOP of the implant hex. This incorrect position of the implant platform resulted in an abutment and crown fabrication to the top of the hex and not flush on the implant base. The crown was placed by the restorative dentist, no final film was taken and the patient had not returned to the surgical office (CAS- periodontist) for follow-up until five years after implant surgery.

WHAT'S RIGHT WITH THIS PICTURE?

Not much except that the MICRO-LOK abutment screw has not fractured or loosened despite the entire crown and abutment resting on the top of the hex not on the implant platform base. This is a testimonial to the strength and security provided by the MICRO-LOK IMPLANT SYSTEM and their patented "dual journal abutment screw".

Most likely every other implant system abutment screw would have fractured, bent or loosened with this anterior crown in function for five years. MICRO-LOK' S abutment screw prevented these problems from occurring. The "dual journal abutment screw" is just one of many design features that makes the MICRO-LOK IMPLANT SYSTEM a reliable and predictable implant system.

The restorative solution needs to be a new crown fabrication after a proper implant impression procedure.

Case submitted by Cary A. Shapoff D.D.S.- Periodontist