USE OF MECHANICAL DEVICES FOR THE INTERMAXILLARY REGISTRATION IN EDENTULOUS PATIENTS TREATED WITH IMPLANTS

This article describes the use of three devices that replace the wax r ims in the registration of the intermaxillary position and of the vert ical dimension of occlusion in completely edentulous patients who have been treated with Branemark implants. The devices consist of a mechan ical ''tooth'' that can be adjusted in all three dimensions of space a nd of two plates that support the registration material. The mechanica l tooth is connected to an abutment in the anterior region and a conta ct is established with a tooth in the opposite jaw at the vertical dim ension in which the patient will be restored. This allows the operator to position the mandible in the centric relation in a condition of ne uromuscular deprogramming and in the absence of posterior interference s. The two metal plates are then fixed to the posterior abutments, one on each side, and support the wax and zinc oxide eugenol paste used t o register the intermaxillary position just established.