Replacing four missing maxillary incisors with regular- or narrow-neck implants: analysis of treatment options.

Abstract

The restoration of the missing maxillary incisors is a complex and delicate treatment challenge. When implant therapy is used, proper treatment planning is critical, as selecting the proper number, location, and dimension of the implants is a difficult task. Thus, this article discusses the issues that must be addressed during diagnosis and treatment planning to achieve a predictable esthetic outcome when using implants to replace the maxillary incisors. The advantages and disadvantages of several implant-supported treatment options-using a combination of regular- and narrow-neck implants-are presented. Ultimately, the use of narrow-neck implants at the lateral incisor sites is presented as the best option for ensuring excellent esthetic outcomes, and the corresponding indications and contraindications are discussed. Further, all treatment options are ranked based on the predictability of their esthetic outcomes.