Dr. Siamak Abai outlines a case where a digital workflow involving intraoral scanning, digital treatment planning, 3-D printing and CAD/ CAM technology is utilized to facilitate the delivery of immediate dentures for a patient requiring extraction of all existing dentition.

Dr. Timothy Kosinski reviews a case where sequential treatment planning and implant-retained dentures are used to address the unique esthetic, short-term and long-term needs of the patient.

Dr. Siamak Abai demonstrates how to maximize the accuracy of final restorations by seating the final abutment, packing retraction cord and taking a direct impression.

Drs. Abraham Ingber and Vincent Prestipino share their thoughts on the genesis of their distinguished partnership, the invention of the all-ceramic abutment, screw- vs. cement-retained restorations, provisionalization, and the keys to running a patient-centric dental practice.

Dr. Max Swancutt describes how, as a general dentist, he transitioned from restoring to placing implants, emphasizing the importance of hands-on training and choosing the right cases when first getting started.

Many patient examinations and consultations may be billed to medical plans. Dentists are often under the misconception that the patient must have a greater medical problem in order to do so, but that is absolutely incorrect. Think about it: If a patient sees his or her physician every year for a complete physical exam, do they necessarily have to have a complaint or problem? The answer is "No," and likewise, a patient who is seeing their oral health care provider does not need to have a complaint or presenting problem other than wanting a complete checkup.

Maintenance of healthy and esthetic peri-implant soft tissue is imperative to the success of implant treatment and patient satisfaction. With stock healing abutments, soft tissue heals around a generic cylindrical shape, making it difficult to attain a natural emergence because the round body of the abutment does not match the morphology of the tooth being replaced. As an alternative, custom healing abutments sculpt the gingiva to form an anatomically correct emergence for a more esthetic restorative outcome.

A majority of edentulous patients are of the age where the minimum amount of bone needed to place conventional-diameter implants is often not present. Additionally, many older patients suffer from medical contraindications that prevent them from undergoing the surgery necessary to place conventional-diameter implants. With many of these patients also facing economic challenges, affordable small-diameter implants can provide an excellent alternative.

Hybrid abutments combine the mechanical reliability of a titanium base with the esthetic advantages of a shaded zirconia substructure. A seamless transition is achieved because the shade of the zirconia hybrid abutment precisely matches that of the final crown. The result is a more natural-looking outcome that eliminates the unesthetic show-through often seen when traditional titanium or standard, unshaded zirconia abutments are used.

Dr. Garber recently shared his thoughts with Inclusive publisher and longtime friend and colleague Jim Glidewell on the challenges and opportunities facing the implant industry, the evolution of dental education in the Internet age and the importance of embracing change as digital dentistry advances.