Oded Bahat: The relationship between esthetics, continuous craniofacial growth and implant reconstruction in adults - observations, consequences and surgical solutions

In this lecture Dr Bahat discusses facial esthetics, craniofacial ageing, its influence on implant placement and how these parameters interact. Craniofacial changes continue throughout adult life, and vary between genders, and individually between patients. Dr Bahat is reviewing the facial esthetic determinants, their changes over time, and their influence on long-term treatment planning, surgery techniques and implant placement and position. With several patient treatment examples Dr Bahat shows that implants will not follow the craniofacial changes over time and discusses the resulting risks, such as implant thread exposure, soft tissue disharmonies, and esthetic and functional implications and complications. Based on these findings Dr Bahat concludes that modification of pre-surgical analysis & protocols, change of osteotomy entry and direction, adequate augmentation procedures, and use of smaller diameter implants should be considered. Informed consent for patients & clinicians is recommended. Future innovation potential is identified in developing techniques and devices allowing to predict and compensate the changes which will occur.