Treatment planning decisions: implant placement versus preserving natural teeth

Dental implants are routinely used as a treatment modality for replacing missing teeth. An assessment of whether to extract teeth and place implants or preserve natural dentition can be a complex decision-making process. The purpose of this article is to review some of the factors that influence prosthetic planning of functional and esthetic rehabilitation for patients with diseased dentition either with conventional treatment options or with extractions and replacement with implant-supported prosthesis.