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Imagine losing a front tooth. Not one of the back ones, but one of the teeth that shows when you smile. The first question you ask yourself is not a technical one: it is “How am I going to look?”. The fear of the aesthetic outcome, of the implant being noticeable, of the gum not cooperating, of something going wrong right where everyone looks — that is the most real and most frequent fear we hear in the clinic. It is precisely that fear — and how to resolve it with clinical rigour through oral implantology — that was the guiding thread that led Dr. Platón to participate as a speaker at the IVIO-UPV Chair Symposium last 29 March.
That day, the Gandía Campus of the Universitat Politècnica de València hosted the third edition of the IVIO-UPV Chair Symposium, under the title From planning to execution: management of the anterior sector in advanced oral implantology. Dr. Platón was one of the main speakers of the event, alongside Dr. Jorge Caubet, before more than 40 professionals from the dental sector specialising in oral implantology.
What the IVIO-UPV Symposium is and why it matters
To understand the significance of this event, it is worth putting it in context. The IVIO (Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Odontológicas) is a postgraduate institution specialising in oral implantology, oral surgery, periodontics and labiodental aesthetics. In 2009 it created the Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Odontológicas with the aim of providing high-quality postgraduate training in the areas of oral implantology, oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics and labiodental aesthetics. Its alliance with the Universitat Politècnica de València gave rise to the IVIO-UPV Chair, which researches new techniques and materials applied to implant-supported rehabilitation following criteria based on scientific evidence characteristic of modern oral implantology.
The IVIO-UPV Chair Symposium is a landmark event in the Spanish dentistry calendar. It is aimed at former IVIO postgraduate students and professionals specialising in implants, periodontics and oral surgery. Being invited as a speaker to this forum — selected from among specialists from all over Spain — is a direct recognition of the clinical and research career of the invitee. In this case, Dr. Platón’s presence reflects precisely that level of recognition in the field of oral implantology.
Dr. Platón's clinical profile
Beyond his more than 30 years of experience in periodontics and oral implantology in Palma and Manacor, Dr. Platón has accumulated a training and scientific career that supports his presence at forums such as the IVIO-UPV. He is a member of the Spanish Society of Periodontics (SEPA) and the Spanish Society of Implants (SEIC), two of the leading scientific societies in the Spanish dental sector, both with a strong focus on oral implantology. His postgraduate training includes specialisation in periodontal plastic surgery and in advanced protocols for implant-supported rehabilitation in the aesthetic zone, core areas of contemporary oral implantology.
Throughout his career he has participated as a speaker at various oral implantology symposia and scientific conferences, sharing clinical cases of high complexity with colleagues from all over Spain. His approach combines the rigour of scientific evidence with the aesthetic sensitivity required when working in the anterior sector, the most visible and most demanding area of the mouth. That dual demand — technical and aesthetic — defines his daily practice at the clinic and his contribution to high-level oral implantology.
What was discussed at the IVIO-UPV Symposium
The third edition was titled “From planning to execution: management of the anterior sector in advanced oral implantology”. Through masterclasses and debate among oral implantology specialists, attendees were able to learn about advances in implants in the aesthetic zone and periodontal plastic surgery. Dr. Platón shared clinical cases drawn from his daily practice in Mallorca, all of them related to implant-supported rehabilitation in the anterior zone.
Key points of the clinical debate
To give a more concrete idea of what was covered, these were the main themes of the oral implantology session:
- Smile analysis and digital planning: designing the final aesthetic outcome before entering the operating theatre, supported by digital tools for analysing lip line, gingival symmetry and dental proportions.
- Assessment of peri-implant soft tissues and bone architecture: how the quality and volume of available bone, together with the thickness of the soft tissues, determine whether the oral implantology case can be approached directly or requires a prior regenerative phase.
- Computer-guided surgery (CBCT): the use of three-dimensional imaging and specialised software to precisely plan the position, depth and angulation of the implant, reducing risks and improving osseointegration.
- Immediate loading in the anterior sector: when it is indicated in oral implantology, what primary stability conditions are necessary and how to manage soft tissues to achieve natural emergence profiles.
- Periodontal plastic surgery and predictable osseointegration: gingival modelling techniques that complement implant placement to achieve a natural and imperceptible contour.
The guiding thread was precisely the one that poses the greatest challenges in daily oral implantology practice: how to move from planning to the operating theatre without losing precision or aesthetic outcome in the most visible area of the mouth. The anterior sector demands a level of technical rigour far superior to any other zone, because every millimetre counts both in function and in appearance.
The clinical criteria that Dr. Platón defended in his presentation
Beyond the academic debate on oral implantology, Dr. Platón’s presentation revolved around specific criteria that he applies in his daily practice. Summarised in an accessible way, these are the four pillars that structured his presentation:
- Smile analysis and prior digital planning: before any oral implantology procedure, Dr. Platón advocates a detailed study supported by digital planning tools. The final aesthetic outcome is designed before the operating theatre is entered.
- Assessment of peri-implant soft tissues and bone architecture: the quality and volume of available bone, together with the thickness and health of the soft tissues, determine whether the oral implantology case can be approached directly or requires a prior regenerative phase. There is no standard protocol: each case demands its own reading.
- Strict criteria for immediate loading: the immediate loading implant protocol is only applied when adequate primary stability and sufficient bone quality are guaranteed. Applying it without these conditions compromises osseointegration and the results of oral implantology.
- Emergence profile and gingival contour management: the way the implant emerges through the gum is decisive for a natural result. Dr. Platón advocates careful management of the gingival contour from day one, using provisionals that shape the soft tissue towards the desired form before placing the definitive crown.
Immediate loading versus deferred protocol: when each option is chosen
One of the questions that generated the most debate at the oral implantology symposium — and that we hear most often in the clinic — is this: Can I leave the same day with a fixed tooth? The honest answer is: it depends on the case, and the criteria for deciding are non-negotiable.
Immediate loading — placing a provisional crown on the same day as surgery — is possible when very specific conditions within oral implantology are met. The deferred protocol, on the other hand, gives the bone more time to integrate before receiving load. Neither option is superior to the other in the abstract: the superior one is always the one that corresponds to the patient’s case.
- Immediate loading: requires high primary stability (generally above 35 Ncm insertion torque), good bone density and the absence of active infection in the area. When these conditions are met, the patient leaves the clinic with a fixed provisional that protects the implant and maintains aesthetics during osseointegration. The main advantage is not only aesthetic: it also shapes the soft tissue from day one.
- Deferred protocol: indicated when available bone is scarce, when prior bone regeneration has been carried out, or when primary stability does not reach minimum values. The process extends over several months, but guarantees solid osseointegration before placing the definitive crown. In highly complex aesthetic oral implantology cases, this extra margin can be the difference between a good result and an excellent one.
What Dr. Platón emphasised in his presentation is that the decision is not made in the operating theatre: it is made during planning. The prior analysis — CBCT, soft tissue assessment, smile study — is what determines which oral implantology protocol is the safest and most predictable for each patient.
A clinical case in the anterior sector: from diagnosis to outcome
To illustrate how these oral implantology criteria are applied in practice, Dr. Platón presented at the symposium a representative case from his clinical activity in Mallorca. A middle-aged female patient had lost an upper central incisor — the most visible tooth in the smile — as a result of trauma. The area showed moderate bone loss and the soft tissues were compromised, which ruled out immediate loading from the outset.
The oral implantology protocol followed was as follows:
- Diagnostic phase: CBCT to assess available bone volume, digital smile analysis and study of the ideal emergence profile for that position.
- Regenerative phase: before placing the implant, guided bone regeneration was carried out to recover the lost volume and ensure adequate support.
- Implant placement: once the regenerated bone had consolidated, the implant was placed in the digitally planned position, respecting the planned angulation and depth.
- Soft tissue management: a provisional specifically designed to shape the gingival contour during the months of osseointegration was used, achieving an emergence profile that mimicked the natural tooth.
- Definitive crown: once the soft tissues had stabilised and osseointegration was confirmed, the high-quality ceramic crown was placed. The result was virtually indistinguishable from the adjacent natural tooth.
This case illustrates something Dr. Platón repeats in the clinic: the best results in the aesthetic zone within oral implantology are not improvised; they are planned step by step, without skipping any phase.
What this means for the patient who fears an implant in a visible area
Participating in an oral implantology symposium of this nature is not just a merit on a CV: it is training that translates directly into the treatment you receive. What is debated at these forums — real cases, compared protocols, trends contrasted among specialists — reaches our clinic in the form of more refined criteria, better-founded decisions and more up-to-date techniques.
If you are considering treatment with dental implants in the anterior zone — whether due to tooth loss, aesthetic or functional reasons — knowing that Dr. Platón has presented and debated cases similar to yours before more than 40 colleagues from all over Spain is an additional guarantee. Treatments with dental implants in the aesthetic zone demand a rigorous oral implantology approach, absolute technical mastery and an aesthetic sensitivity that can only be achieved through experience and advanced planning.
Dispelling the most common fears about implants in the anterior zone
There are three questions that almost all patients ask when considering an oral implantology case in the frontal zone. We answer them honestly:
- Will it be noticeable that it is an implant? With careful digital planning, a well-crafted emergence profile and a high-quality ceramic crown, the result is virtually indistinguishable from a natural tooth. The goal in oral implantology is not only for it to function: it is for no one to detect it.
- How long does the process take? It depends on the case. When conditions allow, immediate loading means leaving the clinic with a fixed provisional tooth on the same day. In other cases, the process extends over several months to guarantee solid osseointegration before placing the definitive crown.
- What if it fails in the most visible area? The success rate of oral implantology in the anterior zone is very high when the case is well selected and planned. The key lies in not skipping any step: smile analysis, soft tissue assessment, digital planning and strict loading criteria. That is exactly what Dr. Platón advocates — and practises — in every oral implantology case.
In Palma and in Manacor we continue to invest in the ongoing training of our team in oral implantology as a non-negotiable part of our way of working. We have been improving smiles for more than 30 years, but we have also been improving ourselves. Because the best guarantee we can offer you is a team that never stops learning, with Dr. Platón at the forefront of that commitment. If you want to know whether you are a candidate for oral implantology treatment in the anterior zone, request your assessment consultation and we will explain the most appropriate protocol for your case.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IVIO-UPV Symposium and why is it relevant in implantology?
The IVIO-UPV Chair Symposium is a scientific event organised by the Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Odontológicas and the Universitat Politècnica de València. It brings together specialists in oral implantology, periodontics and aesthetic surgery to share research, clinical cases and technical advances. Being invited as a speaker is a recognition of the professional’s clinical career within the Spanish dental sector, as is the case with Dr. Platón in this edition.
What is the management of the anterior sector in implantology?
The anterior sector refers to the front teeth, the most visible when smiling. Implantology in this area is particularly demanding because it combines very high functional and aesthetic requirements: the implant must integrate correctly into the bone (osseointegration), the soft tissues must have a natural contour and the final result must harmonise with the rest of the smile. That is why digital planning and immediate loading protocols are key tools in these cases, as Dr. Platón explained in his presentation.
How does the patient benefit from their dentist participating in scientific symposia?
Participation in scientific forums such as the IVIO-UPV allows the specialist to update their clinical protocols, compare their criteria with other sector references and learn first-hand about the latest research in advanced implantology. All of this directly impacts the quality of the diagnosis, planning and execution of the treatment the patient receives. In the case of Dr. Platón, this scientific involvement has been part of his career for decades.
Sources
- Immediate loading implants with implant-supported prosthetic rehabilitation in the anterior zone: Presentation of a clinical case
- Immediate loading of implants in the upper anterior sector
- Immediate loading dental implants: restoring your smile in a single day
- Immediate loading in implants, 7 keys to success – Vericat Instituto de Formación
- Implant placement and immediate provisionalization in the aesthetic sector: surgical and rehabilitative management. Report of a clinical case | Revista Clínica de Periodoncia, Implantología y Rehabilitación Oral