Anterior Implantations

Introduction

For purposes of arch nomenclature, the anterior region is that portion of the dental arch anterior to both mental foramina. Be-cause of the various shapes of the arches, the width between both mental foramina also seems to vary; for example, a wide anterior arch would seem to permit a longer span between each mental foramen than it would appear in a narrower arch. Strangely enough, however, after examining over two hundred mandibular dried specimens that distance between each mental foramen is almost the same, no matter how large or small the arch might be. It is approximately 50 mm.

Sometimes the mental foramina are not symetrically located in an arch which can be due to atypical arch shape or asymetry of the development and location of the foramin itself.

The only consequence this has is to alert the implantologist to be on the lookout for these asymmetrical situations so that he can avoid them. Often also two differently shaped implants might have to be utilized to properly adapt to the anterior asymetry that might exist.

Good Ridge

A good anterior ridge is wide labio-lingually with a slight con-cavity on the labial surface and deep with relatively dense bone. The closer the ridge resembles the bone around a healthy natural

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