Dental Implants: Mastering Esthetics in the Smile Zone
The key to contemporary restorative dentistry is the fabrication of healthy, maintainable, esthetic, and functional prostheses. The true success of any restoration is reliant on the creation of an “illusion of reality,” regardless of the restorative modality used (eg, porcelain laminate veneers, crowns, and/or implant-supported prostheses). Developments and advances to the restorative armamentarium have significantly improved the clinician’s ability to deliver predictable and reliable treatments. Osseointegration…

Systematic Review of Survival Rates for Immediately Loaded Dental Implants
The primary goal of this paper was to determine the survival rate of immediately loaded (IL) dental implants based on a systematic review of the literature. Secondary goals were to determine the influence of several factors on the implant survival rate, such as the type of reconstruction, implant location, and implant surface characteristics. An electronic search of databases was performed, in addition to a hand search of the most relevant journals. All relevant articles were independently screened…

Smoking and Complications of Endosseous Dental Implants
Titanium endosseous implants have been increasingly used in various edentulous situations for well over a decade. Cigarette smoking has long been suspected as adversely affecting wound healing. Arteriolar vasoconstriction and decreased blood flow are seen in response to smoking. In the oral cavity,an increase in plaque accumulation,a higher incidence of gin-givitis and periodontitis,a higher rate of tooth loss,and an increased resorption of the alveolar ridge have been found among smokers.

Mike Pikos & Jack Hahn on Extraction Site Management Part 1
Extraction Site Discussion

Immediate Loading Utilizing Guided Surgery
Dr. Alvarez shares numerous technical and clinical modifications to existing protocols which he believes make his approach more user friendly.

Keys to Optimizing Soft Tissue Esthetics in Implant Therapy - Part 3
Dr. Tidu Mankoo outlines the key clinical components that are necessary to achieve predictability and esthetic results in anterior implant therapy.

Tissue Engineering and Platelet Derived Growth Factors: Evidence Based Therapy
Platelet derived growth factors are now routinely utilized in reconstructive therapy. This presentation describes very detailed and evidence based guidelines for clinicians interested in enhancing their abilities in tissue engineering, especially as it relates to bone augmentation. Specifically, while successful bone augmentation requires the standard surgical parameters of space maintenance, low pressure on the grafts and tension-free flap closure, optimization of this goal requires management and enhancement of the local biological conditions with growth factors. Towards that end, platelet concentrates through the constant release of growth factors are able to promote and enhance new vascularization, provide plasma protein, normal lipidemia, as well as increased collagen and fibrin activity.

Zirconia Based Implant Supported Restorations: Planning and Design
Emphasis will be placed on demonstrating the different restorative options utilizing fixed detachable restorations made of monolithic zirconia, where 100% of the prostheses is zirconia.

Implant Esthetic
Implants...Esthetics...Solutions