Oral and maxillofacial surgery advances in implant dentistry.

T dental implants are synonymous with osseointegration. The concept of osseointegration and its clinical application have positively impacted dentistry and revolutionized the ability to reconstruct the dentition and the craniofacial complex. The ability of the surgeon to precisely place bone-anchoring devices to support prostheses via osseointegration has markedly influenced the approach to reconstruction. Treatment planning, clinical procedures, laboratory techniques, material science, and biologic science have all been influenced by the observations and persistence of scientists and clinicians such as Brånemark.1 Oral and maxillofacial surgery has been both a participant in the development of clinical procedures aimed at capitalizing on the concept of osseointegration, as well as the beneficiary of expanding the scope of practice. Defects of the entire craniofacial complex, including esthetic and functional problems, can now be addressed much more predictably and completely than ever before. Osseointegration technologies have led to improved methods of restoring the dental complex through hard and soft tissue grafting and utilization of distant support sites (ie, zygoma and pterygoid plates) to provide solid support for prostheses. Additionally, anchorage can be provided for orthodontic tooth movement for both routine and difficult clinical situations. The boneanchoring that is achieved with osseointegration has further stimulated the reconstructive surgeon to develop techniques for correction of severe atrophy, ablative procedures, and continuity defects that truly allow restoration of form, function, and esthetics for patients. In this context, an attempt to explore some of the important advances that have come about as a result of development of the concept of osseointegration has been undertaken.