Hi there! Welcome to my portfolio blog, where I will be covering topics related to specialty dentistry, specifically implants and TMJ. The purpose of this blog is to educate other dentists on the techniques and best practices I use in my own office. Since the goal of this blog is to help other dentists bring the best care possible to their patients, always feel free to reach out to me with ideas and questions. Happy reading!

The first topic I’d like to cover is the importance of correct implant position. Correct implant position in all three dimensions is paramount in long term success of implant restoration.

Primary non-healing, force in other than the long axis or not understanding the crown to root ratio rule while planning the restoration will have a detrimental effect on the implant-bone complex.

 For a long time, the dental community has readily accepted the statement, ”vertical bone grafting is impossible”, thus explaining and excusing poor implant placement in the three dimensional space.

 When situations do occur – such as primary non-healing, the resulting defect is quite large.  We need to understand what to ask for from our surgeons.  For those of you out there who are more visual, see below for photos of this type of work. We will be back soon with more cases. Enjoy!

Implant in position #31 did not integrate and had to be removed within 6 weeks of insertion

Position of the implant platform IF not grafted. Note the defect.

The cortico-cancellous autograft was obtained with a 6mm trephine distal to the future implant site, the area where tooth #32 would have been. The lag screw technique was used with a 12mm long titanium micro screw to obtain about 6mm of vertical height. After 4 months of integration the implant platform will be about 2 mm apical to the CEJ of the adjacent tooth in position where we want it.