Esthetic considerations in implant dentistry.

The use of dental implants continues to increase world wide, and single tooth replacement has evolved into a predictable procedure which is rapidly becoming the preferred method of tooth replacement. Clearly, there is increased awareness of and demand for esthetics in traditional restorative dentistry as well as implant-related care. Predictable delivery of highly esthetic, naturally appearing implant restorations is dependent on a host of factors, some of which are hardware-based and some of which are related to the morphology and tissue quality of the proposed implant site. An organized approach to patient evaluation and treatment planning by the implant treatment team will improve recognition of these factors of esthetic significance and will facilitate the development of strategies to achieve esthetic excellence on a more predictable basis.