Osseointegration and dental implants

  • A. Jokstad
UK: Wiley-Blackwell price £75.00; pp 419 ISBN 9780813813417 | ISBN: 978-0-8138-1341-7

This first edition publication is based upon the 2008 Toronto Osseointegration Conference Revisited (TOCR). It puts forth a comprehensive guide to current day practices in implant dentistry according to the speakers at the TOCR.

The book consists of 24 chapters over 380 pages. It begins by discussing the different implant types as well as a comprehensive review of the literature regarding success rates of different implant retained prostheses compared with other conventional tooth borne restorations. This chapter is very informative and useful to all clinicians when considering treatment options and their potential lifespan, as well as providing survival rates to quote to patients for different treatment modalities.

It follows a logical progression to the pre-surgical planning stages, with detailed analysis on the planning procedure for successful functional implants, taking into account factors such as periodontal and systemic diseases. The presurgical planning chapters give an insight into the complexity and importance of correctly placing implants, giving the reader an appreciation of the depth of knowledge needed to complete this pivitol stage successfully. Presurgical interventions are covered in depth which shows the reader what is possible where first it seems impossible to use implant retained restorations. The influence of modern technology on implant dentistry is very apparent here, and the many technologies in the armamentarium of the implantologist are explored in depth. These sections, as well as the following sections on the surgical placement phase are well illustrated with good quality colour photographs.

The mechanism and biology of osseointegration and the response of the tissues is comprehensively covered over three chapters. This section is quite scientific, is quite taxing to read and is certainly to a postgraduate standard.

The restorative portion focuses more on the planning, timing and loading protocols as opposed to the prosthodontic restoration. This section doesn't prepare the clinician for the clinical stages of providing the restoration such as impression protocols, occlusion, ceramic materials etc. It helps the clinician plan this phase, but not execute it.

In summary this is a well written, well organised and well illustrated textbook which combines the knowledge and experience of the leading figures in implantology. It is a worthwhile read for any implantologist while also being a good read for the general dental practitioner, to whom it gives an understanding of the sequence of events from planning to restoration, enabling then to recognise what is possible for their patients and enable them to coherently explain these treatment options prior to referring to an implantologist.