For many years dental implants of varied sizes have been used in Dentistry to augment or replace hard and soft tissue components of the jaws. Implants have been shown to be "compatible" with the hard tissues and associated with responses that mimic the periodontal membrane attachment . This attachment is an element present around the normal tooth root structure. The dental profession has followed acceptable methods of biocompatibility testing and the products currently marked as dental implants do not cause serious harm to the patient.
Cooperation between the oral surgeon and prosthodontist or restorative dentist is also essential to ensure that the optimal number of locations of implants is agreed upon. This in turn will ensure optimal functional stress distribution, access for oral hygiene maintenance, and aesthetic considerations. It is clearly impossible to separate the quality of the implant anchorage from its subsequent loaded assignment. Therefore, it is presumed that the surgical skill that ensured a biomechanical anchorage is matched by the prosthodontic skill that maintains it.
The field of dental implantology is becoming more complex and requires an educational level and expertise far beyond a weekend course in Palm Springs. For those who are interested in getting involved with dental implants it behooves them to take not only didactic lectures but to participate in as many live mini-residency programs and hands -on workshops as possible. Once again, do question one's background, training, and qualifications in this area.