[Growth and dental implants: assessment and prevention of the long-term aesthetic risk].

Using implant to replace a tooth is a well known treatment. However, the practitioner must keep in mind that osteointegrated implants behave like ankylosed teeth, and their evolution does not follow the alveolar processes of the adjacent teeth during growth. This growth decreases after 20 years, but remains present. This can lead to infraposition functionally and aesthetically failure for the implant therapy. Risk factors, like patient's age, sex and shape of the face must be evaluated. Most palatal implant positioning and use of screwed prosthetic tooth can permit the infraposition treatment during years of aging.