Timing of Dental Implant Placement: What Indicators Are Using to Ensure Successful Outcomes?

The traditional approach to the surgical installation of dental implants has been to extract teeth, place bone grafts if needed and allow the site to heal with implant fixtures being installed later on. This approach has a long history of being very successful. The newer approach involves surgical installation of implants at the time of tooth extraction with bone grafts if indicated. In some case, the implant fixtures have provisional or definitive restorations placed at the same visit as installation. All patients should be evaluated on an individual basis with regard to which of the two protocols would be appropriate. In terms of risks and benefits, what indicators are you currently using in your practice to assure maximum success and minimal chance of complications when you place implants at the time of extraction and/or restorations during the same visit?