The second feature topic of Forum Implantologicum in 2022 is a critical appraisal of the relevance and impact of occlusion in implant dentistry. While preparing and also discussing this topic in the Editorial Board, we found that this subject had not yet been widely covered in the dental implant literature. This actually struck us as quite peculiar – what is the essence of a healthy oral system other than a functioning occlusion? We agreed that it would benefit practitioners to know about recommendations from experts regarding the ideal occlusion for various implant-supported prosthodontic rehabilitations, and also the risks of excessive occlusal forces on dental implants.
Therefore, the Editorial Board has invited various author teams to highlight different aspects of the topic of occlusion in relation to implant dentistry. Drs Mattheos and Janda have looked at the impact of excessive or adverse load on osseointegrated dental implants and whether it is a fact or simply a myth. They conclude that while excessive forces or overload are difficult to quantify, complications due to excessive or adverse load are a clinical reality. In his article on clinical aspects on implant therapy for patients with bruxism, Prof. Türp concludes that bruxism is not a contraindication for dental implants as long as certain principles are followed in the planning and design of implant prosthodontics. The author team around Prof. Spies then elaborate their considerations for occlusal loading in natural teeth and implants and the question of the extent to which the same principles for occlusion can be applied to implants as to natural teeth. In our final article, Prof. Cooper investigates unanswered questions and challenges related to occlusion and dental implants. In our “Ask the experts” series, Anthony Dickinson, Shakeel Shahdad, Charlotte Stilwell and Daniel Thoma each provide a snapshot expert opinion on which occlusal scheme to choose for implant restorations.
With the new digital format of the Forum Implantoogicum, these articles will appear online over the next few months, so keep coming back to us to get the full picture!
On behalf of the Editorial Board, I wish you happy reading.
Michael Bornstein