Introduction: Oral rehabilitation of edentulous patients using ixed prostheses commonly involves previous reconstructive procedures, since the residual ridge does not have the minimum dimensions required for installation of standard diameter implants in the planned site. Factors such as high cost and fear of additional surgical procedures make some elderly, even those who are dissatisied with the instability of removable prosthesis, hesitant to treatment with dental implants. Objective: his study aims to report a case of oral rehabilitation with ixed dentures supported by implants of reduced diameter (3.3 mm) in severely atrophic maxilla without the use of grafts or reconstructive approaches. he eight implants, installed with palatal approach at previously planned sites, remained submerged for 45 days when soft tissue adjustment and prosthetic procedures were started. he deinitive prosthesis was installed 65 days after surgery. Results: No intercurrence was registered after 6 months of follow-up. Small diameter implants appear as a simple and fast alternative for horizontal bone augmentation procedures. Additionally, they can be safely used for retention of ixed prosthesis, and prove to be an eicient and low-cost solution for edentulous patients who wish to minimize problems related to the instability of removable dentures.
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