Main description:

The current emphasis on patient-centered medicine necessitates revision of the diagnostic and therapeutic process toward an integrated treatment plan that promotes collaboration among the specialties as well as the patient's active participation. This text describes how to implement such a treatment plan for patients requiring implant treatment in an area of esthetic and/or functional interest. It begins by assessing the potential risk factors, then delves into the process of constructing a diagnosis, and then describes stepwise many of the surgical procedures currently in use. Also provided are laminated decision-making algorithms, most with illustrations, for situations such as an atrophic posterior maxilla, immediate or early implant placement, horizontal and vertical bone defects, and soft tissue management in implant surgery.