As dentists, when considering tooth replacement for our patients, dental implants are top of mind. They are a stable and durable treatment modality, considered the gold standard for tooth replacement. Dental implants have come a long way since the Toronto Conference in 1982 and the initial work of Dr. Brånemark. The variety in modalities, be that full arch, over-denture, short-span fixed prosthesis and single crown, as well as multiple timing protocols and supplementary procedures such as hard and soft tissue grafting, have revolutionized how we think of implant dentistry today.
Patients considering this treatment route are already missing teeth or have failing teeth. If we put ourselves in their shoes, we may realize that to them, these treatment options and techniques for providing implant care are not a priority. Even the implant is not a priority. For patients, tooth replacement is the priority. They want to achieve their priority quickly and painlessly. Implant patients have a shared goal: a functional, pain-free, and aesthetically pleasing full dentition that will be easy to maintain and provide long-term satisfaction. They want to speak, smile, and eat comfortably and confidently. That said, a patient’s “dental” goals may go much further than their jaws or oral cavity. Their prosthetic treatment is often tied to their self-esteem, social interactions, and personal development. Our patients are complex individuals, and our care’s impact on them far exceeds their dentition.
The reason behind tooth failure and why patients require implants as part of their dental care may vary. Teeth may be absent because of congenitally missing teeth. There may be a history of trauma, caries, and periodontal disease. We understand the impact dental history and medical conditions can have on treatment. The tooth, or lack thereof, is not isolated. It is part of a system: our patient. If we are to succeed in having healthy and satisfied patients, the treatment plans we propose must take these and other aspects of our patients into account. Patients are complex individuals, and our treatment plan must account for these individualities.
While preparing and discussing treatment plans with our patients, we guide them through the journey of implant treatment. A journey we know does not end with the delivery of the implant-supported dental prosthesis. Even when the patient has achieved their replacement goals of speaking, smiling and eating comfortably and confidently, the ever-important maintenance phase will follow, and over time, the provision of additional care will become necessary. This is particularly important when treating young patients, such as those with congenitally missing teeth.
Time, further research and development will inevitably mould the landscape. Whether new treatment or provision of additional care, the implant journey will continue to be remapped. Dental implant pioneers could not have imagined where dental implant technology would be today, and I believe I am not alone in looking forward to seeing implant treatment continue to evolve.
About the Editor
Dr. Luisa Schuldt is a graduate of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the University of British Columbia, and has passed Royal College of Dentists of Canada fellowship examinations in two specialties: Periodontics and Prosthodontics. She is committed to the advancement of both of these fields through the delicate balance between evidence based decision making and the application of cutting edge technology. She can be reached at schuldtluisa@alumni.ubc.ca
Oral Health is pleased to present the voices of our Editorial Advisory Board members in this forum, which allows writers to share their personal thoughts, opinions, viewpoints and experiences. We want to ensure our tradition of serving our readers the very best in clinical and editorial content continues and we thank all the members of our Editorial Advisory Board for their efforts in making this happen. We welcome your comments and feedback. Feel free to share your thoughts with us through letters to the editor (tanya@newcom.ca).
