Prosthodontics & Occlusion · patient case question
For a maxillary implant-retained overdenture, what is the accepted minimum number of implants?
Patient case: Removable Partial Denture Design
demo: 64-year-old male
chief: “I want to replace my back teeth on both sides.”
history: Has not attended a dentist in several years. Reports dry mouth.
meds: Amitriptyline, hydrochlorothiazide
findings: Mandibular arch missing #17–19 and #30–32 bilaterally, with all anterior teeth present. Generalized marginal inflammation and heavy calculus. Xerostomia. No frank cavitated lesions found today.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Four
- A. Two implants is the mandibular minimum; in the maxilla it is generally considered insufficient.
- B. Six implants is common for a fixed maxillary prosthesis but exceeds the overdenture minimum.
- C. Three is not a recognized standard for a maxillary overdenture.
- D. Correct. Maxillary bone is less dense and the arch must resist greater lateral loading, so four implants is the accepted minimum.
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