RESUMO
The Novum System offers a unique opportunity to create a definitive, immediately loaded fixed prosthesis on the edentulous mandible for patients who meet specific presurgical criteria. Since this system is based on precisely placed implants and prefabricated bar structures, the surgical techniques are critical in obtaining a satisfactory result. It is especially important that the bone reduction required to create space for the implants and bar assembly be in the proper plane and deep enough to leave room for eventually setting and processing teeth. The surgical guide described here can be an important adjunct during bone reduction to assure proper spatial positioning of the preformed titanium bars. Mounted casts of the correct or corrected maxillary dentition and mandibular arch are required at the appropriate vertical dimension of occlusion. The mandibular cast is reduced in prescribed dimensions to allow the subsequent creation of a processed resin surgical guide for use during the initial stages of surgery. This guide, when used for bone reduction during surgery, eliminates the arbitrary removal of osseous structure and helps assure the plane of implant placement is appropriate for each patient. When used routinely, a significant complication of the Novum procedure can be minimized or eliminated completely. Setting of teeth and processing are subsequently simplified, especially in the posterior dimensions, with this guide technique.