Clinical Patient Presentations

Abstract

Many fully edentulous patients tolerate dentures because they have been told that they are not candidates for implant therapy. Atrophy of the jaws is the primary reason cited to prevent patient treatment. Patients with a terminal dentition are also told this on a daily basis. The reason for these assertions could be anatomic because of pneumatized sinuses or severe bone resorption. Most of these patients are reluctant to go through extensive grafting procedures and settle for complete dentures. Over the last 10–15 years there has been a paradigm shift in the treatment of these patients which has seen a treatment strategy transition from extensive grafting to graft-less. This chapter outlines a systematic approach for the treatment of five patients who presented with differing clinical requirements.