Esthetic evaluation and patient-centered outcomes in single-tooth implant rehabilitation in the esthetic area.

ABSTRACT

Criteria for successful implants, in the rehabilitation of a single missing tooth in the esthetic area, should be determined by composite outcomes, including functional and esthetic aspects of soft tissues and the reconstruction, as well as patient-reported outcomes. This paper focuses on current methods in esthetic assessment and patient-centered/reported outcomes in single-tooth implant rehabilitation in the esthetic area. The relationship between subjective, patient-based esthetic evaluations and objective, professional-based esthetic evaluations is reviewed. In spite of increasing interest in the assessment of 'success' in implant dentistry, it is not yet possible to provide evidence-based conclusions because of the lack of consensus on a universal implant-supported crown esthetic index. There is also a need to standardize reporting of patient-centered outcomes in partially edentulous patients treated with implants.