Course Summary:
Timing is a major factor affecting dental implant success. Implants can be placed at time of tooth extraction, (Immediate Placement), following partial soft tissue and bone healing (Early placement with partial soft tissue and bone healing) and after several months to years of bone healing (Delayed implant placement). Similarly, during dental implant restoration, implant can be restored at time of placement to within 1 week (Immediate loading), between 1 week to 2 months(early loading) and after 2 months (Delayed loading). A number of factors affect what placement and restoration protocol to utilize such as the location of the implant in the mouth, anatomy of the extraction socket, bone and soft tissue profile at the extraction site, adequacy of bone and soft tissue, presence or absence of infection at the site, and the condition of adjacent tooth to the implant site. The goal of this course it to review implant placement and restoration protocols, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as factors that impact what protocol to choose when placing and restoring dental implants. It also reviews factors that impact implant success so that when making decisions on implant placement and restoration dentists can make the best decisions about protocols that can best result in implant success.