Wiley - Journal of Prosthodontics on Dental Implants

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Copyright 2015 by American College of Prosthodontists. All rights reserved.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.

Published simultaneously in Canada.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN: 978-1-119-11536-6

The Journal of Prosthodontics has been the official publication of the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) for over 20 years. More than 1000 peer-reviewed articles on a wide variety of subjects are now in print, representing a treasure chest of history and valuable information on a myriad of topics of interest to our specialty.

The Board of Directors of the ACP recently began a project to classify and collate articles of significance into a book format, to allow both easier reference and enhanced access to areas of specialty interest for our membership. This specific project is a collection of different types of articles from a number of years, on the multiple applications of osseointegrated implants for the management of partially edentulous and completely edentulous patients as well as patients with maxillofacial defects. There are also articles on in vitro studies and general considerations to round out the readership selections.

The Journal of Prosthodontics has played an important role in the dissemination of quality implant research and patient care information, especially in more recent issues. Authors of prominence have begun to select the Journal with increasing regularity, as its reputation for quality of content and review process has become more accepted as the industry standard for the specialty.

We hope you enjoy this collection!

Avinash S. Bidra, BDS, MS, FACP

Stephen M. Parel, DDS, FACP

The editors are thankful to the authors whose work is collected in this volume; to Ms. Alethea Gerding, Managing Editor of the Journal of Prosthodontics since 2003; to Mr. Mark Heiden from the ACP, for his help in coordinating the efforts of everyone involved in this project; to editors-in-chief Dr. Patrick Lloyd (19982003) and Dr. David Felton (2003present), for their tireless efforts on behalf of the Journal during the period when these articles were originally published; and to Dr. John Agar, who as President of the American College of Prosthodontists was instrumental in bringing this book to fruition.

Placement of dental implants is a procedure, not an American Dental Association (ADA) recognized Dental Specialty. Dental implants like all dental procedures require dental education and training.

Implant therapy is a prosthodontic procedure with a surgical component. Using a dental implant to replace missing teeth is dictated by individual patient needs as determined by their dentist. An implant is a device approved and regulated by the FDA, which can provide support for a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth, or all teeth in the mouth. The prosthodontic and the surgical part of implant care can each range from straightforward to complex.

A General Dentist who is trained to place and restore implants may be the appropriate practitioner to provide care for straightforward dental implant procedures. This will vary depending on an individual clinicians amount of training and experience. However, the General Dentist should know when care should be referred to a specialist (a Prosthodontist, a Periodontist or an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon). Practitioners should not try to provide care beyond their level of competence.

Orthodontists may place and use implants to enable enhanced tooth movement. Some Endodontists may place an implant when a tooth cant be successfully treated using endodontic therapy. Maxillofacial Prosthodontists may place special implants or refer for placement when facial tissues are missing and implants are needed to retain a prosthesis. General Dentists are experienced in restorative procedures, and many have been trained and know requirements for the dental implant restorations they provide.

However, if a patients implant surgical procedure is complex and beyond the usual practice of a dentist, this part of the care should be referred to a Dental Specialist that is competent in placement of implants. The referring dentist should effectively communicate and provide specific instructions and any necessary surgical guide(s) for appropriate care.

Likewise, the patient should be referred to a Prosthodontic specialist (a Prosthodontist) if the restorative procedure is complex and beyond the usual practice of the General Dentist. Prosthodontists may place implants as part of their patients reconstruction, but they also may refer with instructions and surgical guides when the implant placement is beyond their level of competence. An example would be referral to an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon for more complicated surgical procedures or for patients with serious medical conditions. Referral to a Periodontist would be indicated when a patient exhibits significant periodontal disease that needs to be treated in combination with the implant restorations.