Occlusal concepts and considerations in implant supported prosthesis

Abstract

The osseointegrated implants react biomechanically in a different pattern to occlusal force, due to lack of the periodontal ligament unlike the natural teeth. The implants show markedly less movement and limited tactile sensitivity compared with the natural teeth. The implant occlusion concept aims to avoid overloading on the implants and to direct occlusal loads along the longitudinal axis of the implants, in order to compensate for the different biomechanics of the implants. Although many guidelines and theories on implant occlusion have been proposed, few have provided strong supportive evidence. Moreover, the outcome of treatment often quite successful in spite of different concepts of occlusion and there is an increasing tendency to doubt about the strict theoretical implant-specific occlusion concept. The purpose of this article is to review the previous reports about the concept of implant occlusion and discuss clinical occlusal considerations in implant rehabilitations.