Contemporary implant concepts in aesthetic dentistry--Part 1: Biologic width

The advent of osseointegrated implants has significantly impacted the way restorative dental procedures are formulated, planned, and implemented. Clinical experience and research with dental implantology as well as the continued evolution of materials, techniques, and their use enables a widening application of treatment. Aesthetic implant placement has been well documented in the treatment of fully and partially edentulous patients and can be predictably applied for single-tooth replacement, perio-prosthetic rehabilitation, and immediate tooth replacement. This article, the first in a four-part series, will address the impact of the biologic width on the management of implant treatment for edentulous ridges.