Prosthodontic treatment planning: current practice, principles, and techniques.

Abstract

In this series of articles, the faculty of the University of Southern California New Odontic Seminar have taken the 25 years of documented treatment of sample patient "A.K." and used it as a foundation on which to base discussion of the concepts and technology that have developed in prosthodontic treatment planning. Each of the contributing authors was asked, "What are your thoughts retrospectively if you were to treat the patient A.K. in your practice today?" And, since all dentists are challenged with evidence-based treatment planning, each author was also asked "On what evidence in the literature do you base your treatment planning for patients who need prosthetic therapy?" Dentistry's experience with long-term success of endodontics, periodontics, and implant dentistry is expressed in the presentations discussing when an implant may be better suited for a prosthetic abutment than a restored tooth.