Dental implant therapy has become recognized as a predictable tooth replacement option for the partially and completely edentulous patient. However, when complications occur, the degree of restorative and surgical interventions needed to meet patient expectations exponentially increase. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss treatment planning and clinical concepts that minimize failures, and maximize success.

The profound success of implant therapy has created a new standard of care for the restoration of missing teeth. Implant design, abutment selection, and restorative design concepts affect treatment planning and the esthetic outcomes available to patients.

Root form dental implant therapy was introduced in Europe over 40 years ago, and in the mid 1980′s in North America. The journey from its inception to today has been revolutionary, with greater understanding of the biological process, advances in surgical adjunct procedures, implant design and the recent introduction of CAD CAM technologies in every facet of the treatment process.