implants international magazine of oral implantology

I case report 20 I implants2_2012 _Introduction In many cultures, a flawless set of teeth embodies vitality, health, youth and beauty. No wonder that, in allages,ambitiousdentistshavestrivedfortheprovi- sion of a perfect denture. Continuous research and theclinicalmonitoringofsuccessrateshaveledtothe triumph of modern implants. The possibility of a reli- able and effective alloplastic root replacement opened up a variety of perspectives for a both func- tional and aesthetic rehabilitation after tooth loss (Esser 2010). Implantological treatment concepts avoid the typicaladverseeffectsofconventionalprostheticso- lutions. Due to their lack of bone resistance to pres- sure, mucosa-supported prosthetic solutions are of- tenregardedasacompromise.Therefore,theriskofa profound atrophy of the Processus alveolaris and a consequential denture disability should be consid- ered by any long-term therapy planning. This aspect is of utmost importance in cases involving a prema- ture loss of teeth. However, implants are still rarely included in the prosthetic strategies of the general practice. There- fore, improved functionality and superior aesthetic rehabilitationarelong-termpossibilitiesyetnotfully exploited. Instead, intact abutment teeth are often threatened by the reduction of the tooth structure and by overload. Asreportedbynumerousstudiesperformedinthe last two decades, implants have a certain protective effect which is based on the possibility of a physio- logical chewing force initiation in the bone, thus maintaining the alveolar bone. Today, these positive effectsareimportantargumentsforpatientswhoare interested in implants. They can form a helpful sup- portinthedecision-makingprocesswhendeveloping an individual prosthetic treatment plan. Moreover, implantproceduresarenowgenerallyacknowledged Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Implantology in the atrophied alveolar ridge without augmentation Case study on the anterior maxilla Author_Prof Dr Frank Liebaug, Dr Ning Wu, Germany