Dental implants are widely accepted as a predictable means for replacing missing teeth. Patients seeking treatment expect long-lasting and predictable aesthetic and functional outcomes. To achieve this, a systematic approach for patient and site assessment is required. This forms the basis for a predictable treatment plan. The surgical approach needs to incorporate the appropriate time point to place an implant following tooth extraction, and decision on the need for bone augmentation. Clinical cases will be presented to illustrate the principles discussed.

The clinician should recommend the treatment approach based on a comprehensive and systematic examination of the patient. This forms the basis for a predictable treatment plan and long-term stable outcomes.

Topics include

• Patient and site assessment
• Timing of implant placement in post-extraction sites
• Staged vs simultaneous bone augmentation
• Clinical case presentations and discussion

Learning Objectives

• Describe the relevant pre-treatment clinical and radiographic diagnostic information for successful implant placement.
• List the selection criteria for the timing of implant placement following extraction - immediate implant placement (Type1), early implant placement with either soft tissue healing (Type 2) or partial bone healing (Type 3). 
• Identify the factors influencing the decision on whether to complete a one-stage or two-stage bone augmentation procedure in sites requiring reconstruction of bone defects.
• Apply theoretical concepts and principles to clinical cases