Gerry M. Raghoebar received his DDS and MD degree at the University of Groningen. In 1988, he qualified as oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Since 1988, he is a staff member at the University Medical Center Groningen. He defended his PhD thesis in 1991. In 2006, he was appointed as a professor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Groningen. From 1995 to 2006 he was a member of the board of the Dutch Society of Oral Implantology and since 2006 he has been an honorary member of this society. He is a fellow of the European Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. His current research efforts are focus on single-tooth replacements, the edentulous maxilla, bone and soft tissue augmentation techniques, reconstruction of bone defects, and craniofacial implants. He has (co)authored numerous scientific publications and books.

Gerry M. Raghoebar, DDS, MD, PhD
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Professor Oral and Maxillofacial Implants
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
University Medical Center Groningen
University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Bone: the basis for successful prosthodontic treatment with implants. From the past to the future.
Recent advancements in implantology have significantly raised patients’ expectations regarding the outcomes of implant treatments. In the past, implants only needed to achieve osseointegration. Nowadays, implants must be positioned in such a way that it allows the fabrication of a functional and aesthetically pleasing prosthetic restorations. Thus, when the available bone volume at the desired implant site is insufficient for optimal implant positioning, bone augmentation procedures are indicated. Insufficient bone volume and compromised soft tissues at the time of implant placement can result in suboptimal aesthetic outcomes and/or premature implant failure. A variety of techniques and materials are available for bone augmentation. It is essential to select the appropriate method, but potential morbidity must also be considered. With the new digital technologies, it is now possible to make this decision based on the desired prosthetic outcome. 3D planning with CBCT and software planning programs can greatly assist in the optimal placement of implants, providing insights into the need for additional bone augmentation. A surgical template can be created based on this information. Thus, both bone and soft tissue augmentation procedures are often required before and/or alongside implant placement to achieve the optimal aesthetic result. An overview of the techniques involved and data on the predictability of augmentation procedures will be presented.