THE BUDDY SYSTEM
THE BUDDY SYSTEM: A PROSTHODONTIC SOLUTION FOR THE MINI DENTAL IMPLANT Dr. Chow Kai Foo BDS Singapore, FDSRCS England, Cert. of Implantology Germany, FICD THE STORY OF MINI DENTAL IMPLANTS Mini dental implants were initially used as transitionals. One of the first makers were Dentatus of the U.S.A. They were placed in between conventional implants so that while the conventionals were osseointegrating, the transitionals were used to support the temporary bridges. However, when the time came to bring the conventionals into function and to remove the transitionals, some of them could not be unscrewed and were found to be osseointegrated. These osseointegrated transitionals were then cut off at the bone level and left in situ. The conventional 2 piece implants were then connected and the prosthodontics completed. It did not take long for some innovative dentists to decide to use the transitionals to support permanent crowns and bridges. One of them was Dr. Senda