Rationale for Dental Implants

Teeth may require replacement when they are from congenitally missing to suffering from trauma and dental disease and are sometimes considered being removed to facilitate a complex treatment course. The options to replace these teeth are (1) non-treatment, (2) removable prostheses, (3) fixed partial dentures and (4) dental implant placement. This chapter presents the advantages of utilizing dental implants as support for restorations and compares their benefits to other methods of restoring teeth. There has been a tremendous shift in using implants in dental practice since 1982 when dental implants were introduced to North America. The literature referenced will inform about the benefits of implants and the rationale to indications to use them in the best interest of patients. Patients will consider having an outcome of good aesthetics and function and knowing that the implant and restoration are the best analogues to replace missing teeth. With this chapter and the following chapters, a clear rationale to use dental implants to replace teeth should be accepted by most dental providers. When there are missing teeth, there are four choices that can be made: non-replacement, removable prostheses, fixed tooth-supported prostheses and implant-retained or -supported prostheses. Each of these treatments can be provided as the most suitable for each patient based on many factors.