Telescopic work

Telescopic work: the telescopic denture consists of the primary crowns or caps made of precious or non precious dental alloys that will be cemented on the prepped teeth, the secondary crowns that are slipping over the primary caps and thus maintaining the bridge through sliding friction tight on the teeth. Telescopic denture is also known as overlay denture. A complete denture that is supported by both soft tissue and natural teeth that have been altered so as to permit the denture to fit over them. The altered teeth may have been fitted with short or long copings, locking devices, or connecting bars.

Overview

Telescopic work is a double-crown system: primary crowns are cemented on the abutment teeth, and the denture carries secondary crowns that slide over them. The friction fit gives retention without visible clasps, which is why it is chosen for anterior aesthetics and for patients who object to a partial denture framework.

Fabrication

Primary and secondary crowns are milled as a matched pair so the fit is calibrated at the bench rather than adjusted in the mouth. We work in non-precious Co-Cr or in precious alloy, and can combine a milled primary with an electroformed secondary where maximum fit tolerance is needed.

Fit and follow-up

Telescopic prostheses depend on parallel abutment preparation. If the abutments converge excessively the secondary crowns will bind, so we check the die spacing before production and raise it with you early rather than after the case is finished.