by Justin Moody, DDS
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Implant dentistry is centered around the desired esthetic outcome. Some call it "working backward" – starting the process by defining how the patient or referring dentist wants it to look and then working toward that goal. The quality of implants and the technology to plan and create them has evolved over the years. In my practice, digital radiography, CBCT, and CAD/CAM milling pave the way for a smooth implant process.
Educating and communicating with patients is imperative. The referring doctor, patient, and I discuss the possibilities to determine whether a simple crown, multi-implant, or removable prosthesis will yield the desired esthetic outcome. Next, I precisely assess the patient's dental anatomy to ascertain whether that desire is realistic. My i-CAT® has become an integral part of my implant regimen.
When placing an implant, I cannot just guess where enough bone is and then wait to see what happens. I need to know definitively that there is enough bone and structure to maintain an implant successfully. If not, the next step is to create the ideal structure through procedures such as bone grafting, or employ a different prosthetic solution. To fulfill the dentist's responsibility for ALARA, each scan size is determined based upon the individual's needs. When taking a CBCT scan, my i-CAT allows for collimation to focus on a particular area of interest.