Surgical reconstruction--a prerequisite for long-term implant success: a philosophic approach

Loss of teeth results in the loss of other tissues. Without adjunctive reconstruction of the hard and soft tissues, this loss can impair the reconstruction of the dentition using osseointegrated implants. Inadequate treatment planning-based on rules derived from anterior implant use in older edentulous patients or poor execution of the surgical plan, leading to errors in the number, angulation, distribution, and position of implants-can be the foundation for future failure. The learning objective of this article is to review specific reconstructive measures that may be appropriate in patients with special functional, aesthetic, or phonetic demands. The authors suggest that the present definition of failure be expanded to include long-term functional, aesthetic, and phonetic outcomes.