title: Replicating soft tissue contours on working casts for implant restorations.
abstract: Restoration of partially edentulous arches is often aided by the use of dental implants. When anterior edentulous spaces are restored, the clinician is challenged to provide an esthetic and functional restoration. The soft tissue that surrounds the implant restoration and the soft tissue at the base of the pontics are important factors in achieving an esthetic result. A technique is presented that will allow soft tissue morphology of both peri-implant and pontic bearing soft tissue to be incorporated into the working cast utilizing a provisional restoration. This allows the fabrication of a restoration that will harmonize with the soft tissue form of the patient.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089-0641, USA.
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Chee
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: D000044:Dental Abutments; D003735:Dental Casting Technique; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported / Q000379:methods*; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008437:Maxilla; D003765:Models, Dental