The role of dental implants in the management of dento-alveolar trauma part 2

To date, there are no research studies that have specifically looked at the success and survival rates of implants in trauma patients. It is therefore assumed that the success rates are similar to implants placed in non-trauma patients. With that, the variables to take into account are identical to regular implant placement. There may, however, be an increased likelihood for the requirement of supplemental surgical techniques if anatomical deficiencies still exist after trauma, which have been discussed in the previous article.

When dental implants are contemplated in patients, the clinician should consider the following clinical parameters which will guide the treatment process and influence the outcome. These include:

The age of the patient is important when considering implants in young and still growing individuals. With increasing age there is continued vertical growth of the alveolar processes. Unlike a tooth, a dental implant osseointegrates and essentially is ankylosed to the bone. Therefore, implants placed in the growing patient will suffer from relative infra-occlusion¹ where the surrounding structures continue their normal growth while the implant maintains its original position and appears to submerge.