Dental implant therapy is widely regarded as a predictable option for the rehabilitation of patients with missing teeth. It is generally agreed that survival rates of implants are high due to developments in implant surface technology and surgical protocols. However, reports of implant success as defined by aesthetic, technical and biological parameters show that implant therapy is subject to complications in the same way as conventional restorative dentistry. In this lecture, a detailed analysis of hard and soft tissue factors that relate to implant outcomes will be presented and discussed. This will include an assessment of both hard and soft tissue parameters. This will form a strategy to allow treatment planning and the undertaking of treatment that provides patients with predictable and optimal outcomes with least risk.