ILLUSTRATED IMPRESSION PROCEDURE

BALL-TOPPED DENTURE


Remove healing cap or tissue contour healing abutments with the .050 hex wrench.
Insert ball-top abutments using the ball abutment driver and ratchet. Note: the ball-topped abutment will not seat when it is in the locked position.
Snap impression cap into place with finger pressure.

Inject impression material and take a closed tray impression.
Insert ball-top analog, or send to lab along with snap cap and metal housing for dental fabrication.
Ball-top analogs in stone model, ready for laboratory processing. The block-out ring is utilized when performing a chair side re-line of the denture.

Completed Denture.
Insert the prosthetic abutment fromthe laboratory in the patient's implant and lock with hand pressure using the 0.50 hex wrench.
Picture of all ball-top components.

Ball-Top Impression Procedure

  1. Unscrew the healing cap or tissue contour healing abutment 1-2 turns counterclockwise with the 0.50 hex wrench. Remove the healing cap from the implant, being sure the locking nut is attached. (Figure1)
  2. Place the ball-top driver over the hex on the ball abutment and rotate clockwise while pushing into the implant, until the ball abutment is tight. NOTE: Do not torque. (Figure 2)
  3. The white plastic impression cap is placed on each ball abutment. Be sure each cap is firmly seated. (Figure 3)
  4. Inject impression material around each plastic cap and proceed with a closed tray impression. (Figure 4)
  5. The plastic impression caps will remain within the impression material. A ball top implant analog is placed in the opening of each plastic impression cap embedded in the recorded impression. (Figure 5)
  6. A soft tissue model is poured in dental stone for laboratory processing. (Figure 6)
  7. The block-out ring is utilized when performing a chair side re-line of the denture. (Figure 7)

Ball Attachment-Retained Overdenture Tips

With the ball overdenture, the implant ball abutment junction must remain supragingival to prevent microbial trauma to the hard and soft tissues.

The ball retained overdenture is an implant and tissue supported overdenture retained by ball attachments, which are locked directly into the implants.

Indications:

  • Provides denture stability
  • May be used as a transitional prosthesis
  • Severe posterior bone loss that prevents implant placement
  • Financially compromised patient
  • Implants too posterior to connect with a bar

Advantages:

  • Minimum of two implants required
  • Can retrofit existing prosthesis
  • Hygienic for home care

Advantages:

  • Lateral load and attachments need servicing
  • Implants must be parallel within 10-15 degrees