2009 Volume 55 Issue 7 Pages 330-340
Over 40 years have passed since the concept of osseointegration was first reported. Implant tools are constantly advancing, and more than 30 types of implants are currently being used in Japan. The characteristics of implants vary depending on the manufacturer. As a result, implants are placed in a single step in some cases and in two separate steps in others, and various approaches have been developed to reliably achieve bone union in the surface structure of the implant fixture.
In addition, in cases where implant placement is not possible with conventional methods due to bone resorption, a method in which implants are placed after increasing bone mass using treatments such as bone graft, bone lengthening, and bone regeneration has been used in recent years. Furthermore, simulation technologies are also advancing. Simulation of implant placement based on 3-D images obtained from CT data has become possible, as has creation of three-dimensional models.