What is the goal of modern implant dentistry?
The goal of modern implant dentistry is to return patients to oral health in a predictable fashion. The partially and completely edentulous patient may be unable to recover normal function, aesthetics, comfort or speech with traditional removable prosthesis. The patient’s function when wearing a complete denture may be reduced to 25-40% of that formerly experienced with the natural dentition. An implant prosthesis however, may return the function to near normal limits. The esthetics of the edentulous patient are also affected as a result of bone atrophy. The continued bone resorption leads to irreversible facial changes. Endosteal implants stimulate bone in a manner similar to healthy natural teeth to maintain bone size. As a result of this bone maintenance, the facial features are not compromised by lack of support. In addition, implant-supported restorations as compared to complete dentures are positioned in relation to aesthetics, function, and speech, not in the “neutral zones” of
