Using Three Familiar Radiographic Shapes to Improve Dental Implant Longevity

From novice to master, clinicians of all levels can benefit from helpful tools that make implant dentistry simpler and more manageable. Such aids can provide insight into treatment options and allow practitioners to work with greater confidence in their approach. From the implant location and design to the prosthesis configuration, force factors, and more, various dynamics must be considered when attempting to optimize an implant solution, and many of these considerations can be confusing regardless of the clinician's training and experience. This is where clever mental shortcuts can be invaluable. One such shortcut when examining a patient's clinical condition is to simply identify one of three radiographic prosthodontic shapes: types 1 through 3 (Figure 1). These prosthodontic profiles are easily remembered because they resemble three very familiar figures: Snoopy (type 1), E.T. (type 2), and a heart (type 3). Keeping these figures in mind can help the clinical team establish effective treatment plans while setting realistic expectations for the patient.