Diagrammatic representation of Implant placement

Implant placementIt is located directly apical to the tooth it is replacing and not in an embrasure space.

The angulation of the implant is consistent with the design of the restoration. This is particularly important with screw retained restorations where it is desirable to have the screw access hole in the middle of the occlusal surface or cingulum of the final restoration. Multiple implants are placed in a fairly parallel arrangement, to facilitate seating of the restoration. However most systems allow convergence/divergence of up to 30° without the use of angled/ customied abutments.

 The top of the implant is placed sufficiently far under the mucosa to allow a good emergence profile of the prosthesis. This is often achieved by countersinking the head of the implant. For example, it is suggested that the top of a standard diameter implant (about 4 mm) when used to replace a single upper incisor tooth, should be 2 to 3 mm apical to the labial cement enamel junction of the adjacent natural tooth.

There is sufficient vertical space above the implant head for the restorative components.

The implant should be immobile at placement. A loose implant at this stage will fail to osseointegrate.