Extremes of implant dentistry, from minis to maxes and beyond: evaluating new implant designs and techniques

Modern dental implantology dates back to 1952 when Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovered that titanium can enable bone to metal integration, without an intervening fibrous tissue layer. The first titanium dental implant was reported as being placed in 1965. Dental implants have since evolved and are used for single teeth, fixed bridgework, immediate loading and full-arch reconstructions for edentulous patients and in the management of the head and neck cancer. The result of this evolution is a range of site-specific dental implants. This article provides an overview of the role of the different site-specific implants within the maxillary/mandibular bony envelope, and the place they may have in dental rehabilitation. The focus will be on the extremes of implant size category, described as minis and maxes for the purpose of this overview. CPD/Clinical Relevance: An awareness of different implant morphology for specific sites is useful.