Single-tooth implant treatment in the maxillary aesthetic region:a decade of treatment

The goal of dental implant therapy in the aesthetic region is to re-establish both function and aesthetics when a failing or missing tooth has to be replaced. The results should not just be a short term achievement, but should remain stable in the long term. The patients in the various studies described in this thesis had different grades of alveolar bone resorption and requested implant therapy for one missing or failing tooth in the aesthetic region. The results in the clinical studies in chapter 2 to 6 showed that, irrespective of the implant that was used, and irrespective of whether reconstructive bone augmentation was needed, stable bone and mucosa was present around the implant restoration after 1, 5 or 10 years in function. The stability and performance of an implant-abutment connection is of interest in achieving long-term tissue stability. The literature review in chapter 7 showed that an internal implant-abutment connection with a platform switch is associated with less bone loss than an implant-abutment connection without a platform switch. The internal configuration itself, for example conical or parallel walled, is of less influence. In general it can be concluded that, when bone conditions at pre- and per-implant placement are proper dealt with, single-tooth replacement in the aesthetic region of the maxilla results in stable peri-implant hard and soft tissues, favourable aesthetic outcomes, and high patient satisfaction, both in the short and in the long term follow-up