US Counterpoint to Chapter 22

Endosseous dental implants are used to support fixed and removable prostheses for totally and partially edentulous patients. Branemark and colleagues demonstrated that titanium screw implants could support fixed prostheses in completely edentulous arches, with 84% implant retention in the maxilla and 93% implant survival in the mandible over 15 years (1,2). They provide a rigid connection of implant to bone, with nearly complete lateral immobility (3). Osseointegrated dental implants have revolutionized the prosthetic rehabilitation of edentulous or partially edentulous patients (4–6). The clinical use of these implants, with modifications through biological and materials research, has expanded markedly over the past two decades. Most academic centers in the United States place endosseous dental implants and the teaching of this reconstructive modality is considered standard in all oral and maxillofacial surgery training programs.