Clinical Protocol for Implant-Assisted Partial Removable Dental Prostheses in Kennedy Class I: A Case Report

Abstract

Patients with Kennedy Class I are usually treated with clasp-retained removable partial dentures (RPDs) as the prosthetic gold standard. For additional stabilization of the RPD, clinicians are often confronted with the question of secondary implant placement, which requires the fabrication of new prostheses. This case report is part of an ongoing multi-center randomized controlled study (RCT) investigating conventional RPDs without and with supplementary implants. A design of the RPD framework, including matrix housings, is crucial to enable subsequent implant retention or support. Ultra-short implants (Straumann TL 4.1 × 4 mm) offer the opportunity for additional support and retention in the edentulous posterior region, where bone availability is often reduced. This future-oriented and minimally invasive approach with virtual treatment planning and guided implant surgery offers the possibility of simplified functional and cost-effective aftercare.