Treatment of fully edentulous patients with ITI implants.

The use of ITI implants for rehabilitation of the edentulous patient has shown predictable results not only in the standard sites but also in cases of advanced alveolar ridge atrophy. Preoperative analysis, including clinical and radiological evaluation, implant selection, and determination of implant number and distribution in the edentulous maxilla and mandible, is described in this article. The surgical procedures used in standard sites are presented, the benefits of a nonsubmerged surgical approach in these cases are emphasized, and a protocol for postoperative management is recommended. Augmentation procedures in advanced osseointegration surgery call for submerged ITI implants when a simultaneous approach is chosen. Several types of advanced implant surgery that can be used are described, including membrane technique, sinus lift procedures, vertical ridge augmentation with iliac bone grafts, and correction of sagittal jaw relationship.