Evaluation of implant treatment based on a review of the literature. A critical look at the “success” of treatment

Prosthetic rehabilitation with dental implants is continuously evolving and becoming more widespread. Therefore, it is essential to standardize methods for evaluating treatment outcomes, particularly in terms of verifying the definitions related to treatment success. It is important to distinguish between “full” treatment success and mere “survival” of the implant in the mouth. Currently, the literature lacks standardized criteria for defining implant treatment as a “success”. Factors such as peri-implant tissue health, bone loss, and technical aspects of the prosthetic restoration are commonly highlighted. Bone level follow- up examinations should be conducted using appropriate radiological techniques. This paper reviews the literature addressing the evaluation of implant treatment, focusing on the various criteria used to classify therapy in terms of “success”. A proper evaluation of implant treatment requires a long-term follow-up period due to the potential for late complications. A shorter observation period may lead to an overestimation of the success rate for this type of therapy. The choice of therapeutic method should be individualized for each patient, and patients should be informed about potential complications. Studies reporting success rates for implant therapy should account for the occurrence of complications. Further research is needed to establish standards and algorithms for managing complications in implantoprosthetic therapy.