Current implant techniques—an overview 5

Fig. 1-8. Both helical burs are in the bone. Note that they are parallel to each other and to the anterior tooth preparations.

Fig. 1-9. An artificial socket is established in the bone by using the hand ratchet and tap shown here. It is important that the tap have a slightly smaller diameter than the helical portion of the implant.

Fig. 1-10. A radiograph reveals the tap in place. It should   Fig. 1-11. Both taps are parallel to each other and to the

be parallel to the remaining helical bur and slightly deeper. anterior abutment tooth preparations. The taps should be set as deep as the implants themselves. A second set of taps having the same diameter as the spirals of the implants is then used.

Fig. 1-13. Using a ratchet and a hexagonal prolongator to join the shaft of the implant to it, the implant is screwed into the artificial socket made by the preceding tap.

Fig. 1-12. Illustration of both wide taps.