[A tooth or an implant--literature based decision making].

The common use of dental implants in the daily practice led to a profound change in the available treatment strategies. The option of replacing a diagnosed doubtful tooth with an implant has become widely accepted and often used. The prognosis systems in use today are based on the three major disciplines: endodontics, periodontics and prosthodontics.

Existing concepts and a search for evidence: a review on implant occlusion.

The prevalence of dental implant treatment raises the question: What factors may challenge osseointegration? The dental literature presents two main approaches, which are well-documented: loss of bone around the implant due to infection and a presumed association between implant load and bone loss. This article discusses the effect of load or overload on the bone loss around dental implants. The dental literature is reviewed to assess the scientific evidence related to the effect of occlusal load on osseointegration.

[Retention or adhesion?].

One of the reasons for immediate or late failure of restorations is the detachment of the restoration from the tooth. Retention for the restoration could be achieved from axial walls (macromechanical retention) or from adhesion of the restoration to the remaining tooth structure. Adhesion relies on bonding of resin cement to enamel or dentin on one side and to the restorative material on the other side.