Glossary

A fixation screw is a screw used for the stabilization of a block graft or a barrier membrane. A fixation screw can also be used to stabilize a surgical guide. A block bone graft is a procedure performed in patients that have bone defects over a large area. The replacement bone for the affected area is generally taken from the back of the jaw. Once the new bone is placed, it is secured using fixation screws which are often made of titanium. A barrier membrane is utilized following a guided bone regeneration procedure and is put in place to prevent pathogens or other cells not involved in osseointegration from invading the site of the GBR. The membrane protects the cells involved in bone growth through preventing contamination with non-related cells or microbes. It is therefore essential that this membrane be secured using fixation screws to prevent its movement or removal

A fixed prosthesis is an immovable dental prosthesis that is held into place. Technically, a single dental implant is a type of fixed prosthesis, however, the term is typically used to describe dental prosthetics that replace multiple teeth and are anchored to one or more dental implants. The fixed prosthetic may also be cemented or bonded to nearby natural teeth instead of to a dental implant. For example, a dental bridge is one of the most common types of fixed dental prostheses. A bridge is one or more false teeth that are placed in between natural teeth, either anchored to the natural teeth or an implant abutment. A fixed prosthesis that is cemented or bonded to natural teeth is a faster solution than a dental implant, however, implant-anchored prosthetics have more stability and permanence. Natural teeth must be filed down to support a cemented prosthetic, but implant-anchored fixed prostheses keep natural teeth intact.

A fixed detachable denture is a hybrid between complete dentures and dental implants. It is a type of full denture that attaches to the abutments of multiple implants across the upper or lower jaw. A fixed detachable denture is often considered a “gold standard” for complete dentures due to its many benefits. Most importantly, it preserves the underlying bone structures instead of allowing them to decrease in both quantity and quality. Fixed detachable dentures are stable and don’t move around in the mouth since they are strongly anchored to the jaw using implant technology. There is no need for denture adhesives and works like a patient’s natural teeth. Fully detachable dentures must be worn with adhesive to keep them from slipping and does a much poorer job of supporting the underlying bone and facial structures over time. Detachable dentures usually need replacement, but a fixed detachable denture typically lasts a lifetime.