Use of Wide-Diameter and Standard-Diameter Implants to Replace Single Molars: Two Case Presentations

Purpose: The ultimate goal in modern esthetic dentistry is the restoration of lost hard and soft tissues by imitating nature as closely as possible. With the increasing esthetic awareness of patients, surgical and technical develop ments, and dentists' enhanced skills and knowledge, op timal function and esthetics are achievable even with implant-supported restorations in molar regins. Anatomic and morphologic factors and poor bone quantity and quality might reduce success rates of dental implants in the posterior jaw. Today, there are two options to replace a single missing molar by an implant-supported crown: the single wide-diameter implant or two standard-diameter implants. These two approaches are described and their advantages and disadvantages discussed in two exemplary clinical cases. Materials and Methods: In one case, the edentulous ridge in the area of the mandibular right first molar (FDI tooth 46) provided sufficient mesiodistal space to restore tooth 46 with a porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns on wide-diameter implants. Results: It can be concluded that both options to replace a single molar provide more surface area and better biomechanical properties than one standard implant. Conclusion: Long-term data are needed before these treatment modalities can be recommended for the private practitioner.