Advanced surgical techniques in implant dentistry: contemporary applications of early techniques

Early techniques in implant dentistry utilized immediate impression-taking and loading of endosseous implants. Because these techniques became associated with an unacceptably high incidence of complications and failures in early implant dentistry, many dental professionals came to look upon the procedures with disfavor. This disregard overlooked the fact that in many cases the utilization of immediate impression-taking and loading was successful. This presentation suggests to the clinicians to reconsider the issue of immediate loading from two contemporary perspectives. First, the author's research indicates that the benefits of single-stage implant treatment can be realized with a two-stage implant. Second, even when single-stage treatment is not elected, the advantages of faster, more convenient (and therefore more acceptable) treatment for the patient can be realized by taking an impression at the time of implant placement with the use of a new insertion tool/impression pin currently in clinical trials and described in this paper.