Pages 12-15, Language: EnglishEckert, StevenTraditionally success in implant dentistry is determined through the use of surrogate outcomes. In many instances these surrogates have little or no influence on the patient's interpretation of treatment success. All the while, the surrogate outcomes continue to be used because they are easy to quantify. Common thought in research is that all assessments must be objective in nature. In distinction, the use of subjective assessments makes it difficult to establish a number that defines success and, without a number, it is nearly impossible to identify a success hierarchy. Although it may be recognized that patient acceptance of treatment is the most critical factor that clinicians face, establishing a series of acceptable outcomes is a difficult, maybe impossible, task. Ultimate treatment success may be more appropriately found by actively listening to patients to identify what has "worked" for them and then extrapolating this into what will work for others.
Keywords: Surrogate, objective assessment, subjective evaluation, success