Rigid connections between natural teeth and implants: a technical note.

In the posterior partially edentulous jaw, implants may be used to supplement existing natural dentition. Frequently, the maxillary sinuses and the mandibular nerve preclude the fabrication of freestanding implant-retained prostheses. However, if an implant and a natural abutment are combined, a fixed prosthesis can be fabricated, restoring the arch into the premolar area. The histories of three patients with attachments connecting implant-retained ceramotitanium crowns with crowns on natural abutments are described. A design for a rigid custom-made attachment for the Brånemark system, using standard components with a machine-duplication, spark-erosion technique, is suggested.