Review of endosseous implants for partially edentulous patients.

The scientific documentation of the biologic acceptability of the Brånemark osseointegrated implant has increased the interest in implants. This documentation was done on completely edentulous patients and therefore is not necessarily transferable to partially edentulous patients. Demographic studies indicate an increased need for implant restoration, yet clinical documentation of the effectiveness of implants in the partially edentulous is not nearly as strong as for the completely edentulous patient. There is a great need for well-designed research to compare prosthodontic materials and techniques. This review summarizes the literature on implants in the partially dentate mouth.