What is the ideal minimum distance between an implant and the adjacent root?

The ideal minimum distance between a dental implant and the adjacent root is 1.5 mm. This distance is crucial for several reasons related to the long-term success and health of both the implant and the adjacent natural tooth.

Maintaining a minimum distance of 1.5 mm helps to ensure adequate bone preservation around the implant and minimizes the risk of bone loss. This distance allows for proper spacing that can prevent the potential for negative biological responses, such as inflammation or resorption, which could jeopardize the longevity of both the implant and the surrounding tooth.

Additionally, this spacing is essential for the biologic width – the space necessary for connective tissue attachment to the implant as well as the surrounding tooth structure. If the distance is too small, it could prevent the establishment of a healthy biologic width, possibly leading to periodontal problems around the natural tooth or complications with the implant itself.

In summary, the specified minimum of 1.5 mm is designed to optimize the biomechanical relationship between the implant and the adjacent natural teeth, fostering an environment conducive to maintaining the health of both structures.