Oral Implants: The Paradigm Shift in Restorative Dentistry

• Published in: Journal of dental research Vol. 98; no. 12; pp. 1287 - 1293
• Main Author: Lang, N.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.11.2019; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Ankylosis; Bone growth; Bone healing; Chewing; Dental implants; Dental prosthetics; Dentistry; Lamellar bone; Mucositis; Osseointegration; Parallel fibers; Periodontics; Teeth; Titanium; implant stability; clinical indications; wound healing; history; periodontics; osseointegration
• ISSN: 0022-0345; 1544-0591; 1544-0591
• DOI: 10.1177/0022034519853574

The discovery of the phenomenon “osseointegration,” or functional ankylosis, has led to the development of oral implants with high clinical performance. Consequently, the placement of titanium implants has changed the paradigms of restorative dentistry. Implants are used to prevent placing reconstructions anchored on natural teeth when these are vital and intact. Furthermore, implants are suitable to improve subjective chewing function and to replace missing and strategically important abutments. The osseointegration process is characterized by a predictable sequence of healing events that encompass the formation of woven bone, parallel fibers, and lamellar bone and result in fully functional bone that will remodel throughout life. While the osseointegration facilitates the use of implants as prosthetic abutments, it has to be kept in mind that the peri-implant soft tissue may be subject to biological complications. This, in turn, may result in an infectious process that will jeopardize the osseointegration. Consequently, the monitoring of the peri-implant tissues is an important aspect, and early intervention in situations with peri-implant mucositis is mandatory for the prevention of peri-implantitis. Hence, it is evident that oral implants need lifelong maintenance care if their longevity is to be assured.