Understanding the intimate relationship between biomechanics and optimal clinical performance: application of implant design.

The intimate relationship between living oral tissue and artificial dental implant material is complex. Some of the factors that influence clinical outcome include the: biological inertness, biocompatibility and/or biotoxicity of the implant material; differential elasticity of the materials and tissues; implant design; primary implant stability; manner by which the tissues attach to the material surface; topography of the material surface; presence of micromovement; and implant-abutment joint design (micromovement and microleakage). This article presents the fundamental data available on these factors and gives an insight into how they affect our understanding of current implant technology.