The role of the restorative dentist in the diagnostic and maintenance phases of implant therapy--Part I: Patient selection.

The objective of patient selection is to ensure that the patient's need and desire for dental treatment is consistent with the clinical findings and the clinician's ability to provide treatment. Considerable effort is required to gather and analyze the data necessary to determine whether implant therapy is feasible. Additional planning is required to determine if this is the best treatment modality. All aspects of dental treatment need to be considered and planned before the implant phase of treatment is contemplated. Our experience indicates that the potential need, and indeed necessity, for conventional dental treatment in patients seeking implant therapy is high. The general practitioner is the logical resource to fulfil the dental needs of the majority of these patients.