Contemporary Implant Dentistry 1st edition – Carl E. Misch

Contemporary Implant Dentistry

Organized dentistry in the early 1900s vehemently opposed fixed partial dentures. In 1911 Hunter1 blamed the «mausoleum of gold over a mass of sepsis» for complicating anemia, gastritis, kidney disease, and lesions of the cord. Gillet in 1914 stated that the day of fixed bridgework had passed and that the next decade would see the end of its use.2 The reformation of fixed partial dentures occurred when anatomic form, occlusion, and physiologic principies were introduced. Twenty years ago, the mere mention of the word «implant» was controversial. Organized dentistry was cautious in accepting the dental implant concept. Patients readily believed that an artificial replacement was more logical and desirable than using removable prostheses. Pioneers with visión, but all too often willing to use human experimentation, met the organized profession’s skepticism. Once long-term clinical data based on sound research and scientific principies were developed, implant dentistry rapidly became an accepted alternative to removable prostheses. Today the widespread acceptance of this field is evident in almost every specialty and general practice. However, several controversial issues still remain.

The use of one implant design for all patient prosthodontic and anatomic conditions is ongoing. Forty-five years ago, when Dahl introduced the subperi-osteal implant, it was popularly believed that subperiosteal implants were the most predictable treatment modality for edentulous arches. This same general-ization was replaced by the root form and pin implants 25 years ago. This oversimplification then shifted to support the blade implant developed by Linkow. At one time the blade implant was the most widely used implant in the world, for both the completely and partially edentulous arch. The mandibular staple implant became the only implant system in widespread use by oral surgeons in the mid- to late 1970s, and was also touted as the only successful implant system of the time.