Stent Design

Periodontal procedures are available to lay the groundwork for restorative and cosmetic dentistry, to improve function and the appearance of your patient’s smile.

Stent design is critical in providing information by way of a guide to achieve best possible implant positioning.

The design is more critical anteriorally than in the posterior segments.

Whilst coping material using a suck-down technique on a study model is satisfactory in some cases, making a rigid stent in clear acrylic is the best option.

This is technique sensitive and any distortion during manufacture can result in uneven seating and invalidate the usefulness of the stent.

Because we cold sterilize them for 30 minutes before surgery we cannot try them in on the day of treatment. It is best for you to have a 2nd model to validate fit or do a try-in.

Do not ask your technician to drill the holes in the stent, we will do this. Please arrange for the stent to be delivered at least 2 days prior to the surgery date.

In the anterior segment, where there is more than one tooth missing and especially if there has been any soft tissue loss, a diagnostic wax-up is required. From this the technician can manufacture the stent.

It needs to extend at least one tooth on either side of the edentulous space

The length of the teeth must be accurate showing “ideal tooth form”. In this case the stent was not made correctly and required adjustment before it could be used. The technician waxed up to obliterate the space resulting from soft tissue loss as well. Leave nothing to chance in your prescription. (a.)

In the posterior segment, length of the teeth is not as important. The stent does need to identify correct occlusal form particularly the central occlusal fossa. Amorphous form does not allow easy identification of the correct exit point on the occlusal surface. (b.)

For a single molar – extend the stent on to the adjacent teeth mesially and distally. (c.)

In a free-end saddle situation, the stent needs to be extended at least 4-5 teeth forward and also have adequate palatal / lingual bulk for strength (this stent could have been extended palatally a little more on teeth 12, 11 & 21, also teeth 16 & 15 are too long gingivally). (d.)

If you have any queries please call us.

Please indicate whether you intend to screw retain or cement retain your restoration as this can make a difference to the planned position of the implant/s.