Abstract

Purpose: In many cases, the erroneous placement of a dental implant brings about undesirable results. Here, the effect of dental implant placement on the success of the final prosthesis was evaluated from the point of view of the prosthodontist. Materials and Methods: All surgical operations were performed by the same oral surgeon with the same surgical protocol and all prosthodontic procedures were performed by the same prosthodontist. The problems faced by the prosthodontist, their causes, and their effect on prosthesis success were identified. The success of the final prostheses was evaluated by the same prosthodontist. Results: Only 53% (238 implants in 105 patients) of dental implants were not associated with prosthodontic problems. Multiple implant placement (more than three implants) was associated more frequently with prosthodontic problems. Conclusions: The data indicate that the satisfactory construction of a prosthesis is highly dependent on the placement of the dental implant in the best possible position. It is strongly recommended that the oral surgeon and the prosthodontist engage in pre-operative discussions to establish a topdown treatment plan, as this will improve implant placement and ultimately the success of the prosthesis.