Article:

This article, the first of a planned three-part series, outlines a new surgical & prosthetic approach for treating cases involving two missing adjacent teeth in the esthetic zone. These type of cases, particularly when combined with a three-dimensional ridge deficiency, represent one of esthetic dentistry's most challenging dilemmas. A Clear understanding of the unilateral and bilateral defect concept is necessary to properly evaluate each particular case, understand surgical limitations, perform a better risk assessment, establish an esthetic prognosis, develop the best clinical-laboratory strategy, and adjust patients' expectations. While not recommended for every case, represents a useful, economical, and predictable alternative that decreases the umber and complexity of interventions.