The esthetic effects of implant platform selection

Implant dentistry has undergone considerable evolution over the history of modern endosseous implant therapy. With the advent of enhanced bone and soft tissue manipulation procedures, improved implant hardware components, and enough experience for the procedures to evolve, an implant restoration today may be indistinguishable from a natural tooth. Guidelines are discussed for implant selection and implant placement dictated by the desired functional and esthetic result. The implant platform should be selected only after the tooth and soft tissue dimensions are decided. In addition, the largest platform diameter that fits within the normal root contours should be selected. Surgically, that platform should be placed 3 mm apically and 1 mm lingually to the buccal emergence point. The buccal cementoenamel junction or free gingival margin thus becomes the key determinant for implant position. Specific implant dimensions are discussed for each tooth to provide appropriate guidelines for the practitioner.