When drilling in a ridge with D4 bone during implant surgery, what should the clinician consider doing?

When drilling in a ridge with D4 bone during implant surgery, utilizing the complete drilling sequence is crucial. D4 bone is classified as soft bone, which typically presents challenges related to implant stability and retention. The complete drilling sequence involves a series of progressively larger drills that help create a precise and properly sized osteotomy.

Following the complete drilling sequence allows the clinician to gradually prepare the site, which can enhance the stability of the implant once placed. The stepwise approach helps to limit excessive stress on the bone, minimizes the risk of overheating the bone, and can improve the accuracy of implant placement.

In contrast, options like using only the pilot drill or compacting the bone with osteotomes are less appropriate for D4 bone. Relying solely on the pilot drill without following through with the complete sequence might lead to insufficient bone preparation. Meanwhile, osteotomes are generally used for harder bone types to achieve compaction, making them less effective in softer bone environments like D4. Finally, while taper implants can provide some advantages by offering better compression, they do not substitute the need for complete drilling when preparing a softer bone site.