Dental Implant Restoration

Book excerpt: Treatment protocols involving placement of dental implants require a dental team with expertise in surgery, restoration, and laboratory procedures. However, the responsibility for coordinating the treatment plan falls to the restorative clinician who must develop the blueprint for restoration. This concise and easy-to-follow guide provides a basic understanding of the fundamental principles of implant dentistry and prepares a clinician to lead the treatment team through the stages of restoration to produce an esthetic and functional result. The first part provides an overview of implants and their components, an explanation of the theory of osseointegration, and a guide to patient diagnosis and treatment planning, including strategies on how to interact with surgical colleagues and laboratory technicians. The second part consists of effective clinical protocols for simple implant restoration using techniques that are currently available and commonly used. This book is an ideal starting point for students and practitioners new to implant dentistry.