Dental implant treatment strategies for failing and missing teeth in the maxillary aesthetic region

Failing or missing teeth in the aesthetic region of the maxilla (1st premolar to 1st premolar) create a difficult challenge for patients and dental professionals, because of the aesthetic demands and patient’s expectations. This PhD thesis discusses the complexity of implant treatment in the maxillary aesthetic region (chapter 1). The overall aim of the studies described in this thesis was to assess the outcome of several implant treatment strategies for one or two failing or missing teeth in the maxillary aesthetic region:- Treatment of one failing tooth with immediate implant placement and provisionalization (chapter 2);- Treatment of one failing tooth with immediate implant placement and provisionalization, with or without a connective tissue graft (chapters 3 and 4);- Treatment of two missing teeth with delayed placement of two adjacent implants and single implant-supported restorations (chapter 5);- Treatment of two missing teeth with delayed placement of a single implant and one implant-supported cantilever restoration (chapter 6);- Treatment of two central upper incisors with two adjacent implants and single implant-supported restorations, following a new implant treatment proposal (chapter 7).The results of these studies are discussed in chapter 8. It was concluded that implant treatment for one failing or missing tooth as well as for two adjacent failing or missing teeth in the maxillary aesthetic region results in healthy peri-implant tissues, limited peri-implant bone loss and high patient satisfaction scores, with the exception of the compromised inter-implant papilla that is often seen in case of two adjacent implants