CASE 13 – Full upper overdenture using magnets

Mrs M from Stockton born 1944

Mrs M wanted full upper and lower fixed prostheses but although there was sufficient bone in her lower jaw for five implants and a high level beam prosthesis, her upper jaw had virtually no bone. This posed a problem as if only the lower jaw was restored the much stronger implant supported lower teeth would damage the little remaining bone of her upper jaw. Following many radiographs and investigation sufficient bone was found to place two implants in her upper jaw and it was decided to construct an upper overdenture on to these fixtures using magnets for retention. These have the advantage that they allow slight side to side movements of the upper denture, so protecting the implants, but they allow very little vertical movement of the upper denture so protecting the underlying bone. They also hold the denture in place very firmly. The standing joke with Mrs M is “clunk click every trip” as the upper denture snaps into place.

Magnets fitted onto the dental implants.	Corresponding magnets in the upper denture.

The very retentive and life like finished denture in place.

The cost of Mrs M’s treatment if it had been carried out today would be £12,300.