Immediate implant post-surgical complications

Immediate surgical implants provide a convenient means of replacing missing teeth without requiring hard tissue reduction of restoration-free potential fixed partial denture abutments. Although the procedure is described as "predictable," complications and failures do occur. This report presents four cases of immediate implant complications and their management, and discusses possible causes of the untoward results. Careful pre-operative planning, adequate surgical technique and post-surgical management, timely and suitable loading, and meticulous hygiene maintenance can serve to minimize implant complications and failures. The prospective immediate implant patient must be provided with sufficient information to allow informed consent to be given. Minimal requirements are a description of the procedures in terms the patient can understand, an explanation of potential risks and complications, and adequate disclosure of information about alternative therapies.