Implant therapy is an accessible mode of treatment that can be executed with a high degree of predictability by following some simple steps and techniques. According to estimates, 80% to 90% of all implant restorations are single-unit cases involving patients with good general health and adequate bone in the area of implantation.1 This provides ample opportunities for general dentists — after receiving the proper training — to begin placing implants.
A common source of straightforward, single-unit implant cases are patients who present with a tooth that has fractured or otherwise failed after receiving endodontic treatment (Fig. 1). In many of these cases, the prognosis for further conventional treatment is unfavorable, and the tooth must instead be extracted. To take advantage of the superior long-term prognosis offered by implant therapy, the practitioner need only preserve the ridge, allow the site to heal, place the implant, and deliver the crown. These make excellent cases for clinicians new to implant placement.