Medical Risk Factors in the Surgical Implant Patient

Although dental implants are a mainstream therapy to replace missing teeth, patients with medical risk factors may have higher failure rates than healthy patients. Systemic medical conditions and medications can affect osseointegration as well as long-term implant success. Do these patients require additional precautions or altered surgical protocols? Are there any absolute or relative contraindications to implant surgery? As clinicians perform implant surgery, we must be able to identify important risk factors, counsel our patients on alterations in surgical protocol and healing times and provide realistic expectations. Medical risk factors may also lead us to perform less invasive procedures, limit surgical complexity, or alter restorative treatment plans. This presentation will provide the practicing clinician with strategies to minimize risk factors in the medically compromised patient, improve surgical outcomes, and minimize complications. Learning Objectives: • Updates on medical risk factors and medications that may increase implant failures • Discuss strategies to improve outcomes in medically compromised patients 1 CE Credit Hour | Free *You will receive a Verification of Course Attendance via email after you complete and pass the quiz.