Course Summary:
The maxilla and mandible present with unique characteristics which have to be taken into consideration in recommending therapy to optimally develop future dental implant sites in both arches. As a result of the differences, the approach to site development is different, with differing types of site development procedures required to meet those needs. The goal of this course is to review site development procedures and their necessity in creating adequate bone and soft tissue in an implant site. Having adequate bone and soft tissue have been found to be key factors affecting overall implant success. So much so that the current approach to dental implant placement focuses on using a “Restorative driven placement protocol” involving placing dental implants in locations optimal for implant restorations in sites that have adequate bone and soft tissue support. A number of other factors are also paramount to dental implant success such as anatomy of the dental implant site and optimal positioning of the dental implant in the alveolar ridge. The objective of this course is to review implant site development in the maxilla and mandible, as well as the esthetic zone and posterior maxilla, and procedures that can be used to correct deficiencies in bone and maximize bone and soft tissue volume necessary for implant survival and success.