Multidisciplinary approach to implants: a review

As implant dentistry grows in popularity, greater numbers of general dental practitioners (GDPs) are offering this service to their patients. In order to improve treatment success for both patient and practitioner, a multidisciplinary approach to implant planning and placement should be taken. However, the literature currently holds few articles which offer advice to the GDP on how to take a multidisciplinary approach to implant treatment. The aim of this review is to provide practitioners with evidence-based guidance for taking a multidisciplinary approach to implant treatment. A MEDLINE/PubMed search for articles published between 1980 and mid-2012 was undertaken. The search strategy used different combinations of the following terms: dental implants, osseointegration, medical contraindications, patient habits, radiography, prosthodontics, endodontics, orthodontics, periodontics and surgical factors. The review demonstrated the importance of thorough medical and dental history-taking, and how different facets of each speciality contribute to the outcome of implant treatment. Successful implant treatment is the result of careful planning and integration of various areas of dentistry, not just those of prosthodontics and surgery.