Patient Assessment & Treatment Planning Flashcards

Which bone classification (Lekholm & Zarb) describes dense cortical bone with little trabecular bone, typically found in the anterior mandible?

Answer: Type I

Type I bone is almost entirely dense cortical bone, providing excellent primary stability but potentially limiting blood supply to the implant surface.

A patient with bruxism seeking dental implants should be informed that:

Answer: A night guard is recommended to protect implants from parafunctional forces

A custom occlusal night guard reduces parafunctional forces on implant restorations, decreasing fracture and bone loss risk in bruxing patients.

When evaluating a patient for full-arch implant-supported fixed prosthesis (All-on-4), what is the minimum number of implants typically placed per arch?

Answer: 4

The All-on-4 protocol places 4 implants per arch (2 axial anterior, 2 tilted posterior) to support a full-arch fixed prosthesis.

Pre-implant orthodontic treatment may be needed to:

Answer: Create adequate mesiodistal space and align adjacent roots

Orthodontics can upright tipped adjacent teeth and open collapsed spaces to provide the necessary room and favorable root angulation for implant placement.

The 'comfort zone' for implant placement in relation to the maxillary sinus floor is best described as:

Answer: At least 1–2 mm of bone must remain between the implant apex and the sinus floor

Maintaining 1–2 mm of bone between the implant apex and the sinus membrane prevents perforation while maximizing available bone height.

Which factor most significantly affects long-term implant success in the esthetic zone?

Answer: Preservation of inter-proximal papillae and labial bone

Maintaining the inter-dental papilla and labial bony plate is critical for natural esthetics — black triangles and tissue collapse are primary esthetic failures.