Partially Edentulous Mandibular Anterior Guidestent

This tooth-supported stent with plastic sleeves offers good cross-arch stability, ideal fixture placement and angulation. Figure 2-1 is a diagnostic cast showing ideal position for six implants.

Holes are drilled to simulate ideal fixture angulation. Dowel pins and plastic sleeves (Whale dent Interna-tional) are placed on the lubricated cast. It is important that the plastic sleeves do not extend below the tissue level. The plastic fin at the middle of the sleeve must be incorporated in the stent material. Tooth undercuts are then blocked out on the cast with wax.

Ivory-colored Triad (Dentsply In-ternational) material is adapted to a six millimeter height around plastic sleeves and to the occlusal surface of posterior teeth. It is then light cured in the Triad curing unit, removed from the cast, finished and polished.

This finished guidestent with the pins replaced illustrates ideal fixture placement and angulation.