Prevention of bone loss for edentulous patients.

This paper examines the consequences of being edentulous particularly on the intra-oral hard tissues. Short, medium and long-term studies of the overall post-extraction changes are reviewed and the bone loss that might be anticipated quantified. Following on from this, means by which bone loss may be prevented are reviewed. The bone-preserving potential of conventional and implant-retained overdentures is presented, advantages and potential problem areas highlighted.