"Rules of 10"--guidelines for successful planning and treatment of mandibular edentulism using dental implants

The three "Rules of 10" for treatment planning dental implant therapy in the edentulous mandible are designed to improve the success of both the endosseous implants and the prosthesis. These "rules" acknowledge and provide a method to control the mechanical environment, addressing factors affecting implant and prosthesis longevity, including magnitude of forces, resistance of the prosthesis against these forces, and the biology of bone and its ability to respond to loading environments. The rules specify that for any IRO or ISFP, there must be a minimum of 10 mm of alveolar dimension (inferior/superior) and a minimum of 10 mm of interocclusal (restorative) dimension measured from the soft-tissue ridge crest to the occlusal plane. Additionally, for an ISFP, the anterior/posterior distribution of implants must be greater than 10 mm. This article provides support in the literature for these rules and illustrates their application in the treatment of mandibular edentulism.