Search

The purpose of this clinical report is to present a complete digital workflow for the fabrication of complete arch fixed zirconia implant restorations. An intraoral scanner was used to capture the implants' position at the abutment level and also the patient's existing interim prostheses with the double digital scanning technique. A novel scan body and impression pin were utilized throughout the scanning process which allowed for the accurate and reproducible superimposition of the generated Standard Tesselation Language (STL) files. Prosthesis prototypes were digitally designed and fabricated, tried in, and verified intraorally. The definitive zirconia prostheses were then fabricated and delivered to the patient. This technique can be utilized in both arches overcoming the absence of stable intraoral landmarks for superimposition of STL files., (© 2021 by the American College of Prosthodontists.)

The purpose of the present report is to illustrate a proof-of-concept protocol with the double digital scanning (DDS) technique for complete digital workflow in double full-arch implant rehabilitation. Two patients (4 restored arches) presented with hopeless dentitions and they were treated with a 4-appointment prosthodontic protocol and monolithic zirconia prostheses implementing a complete digital workflow. The outcomes are presented after clinical and radiographic observation for 2 years., (© 2020 by the American College of Prosthodontists.)

Purpose: To report the rate of technical complications and prosthesis survival in a cohort of edentulous patients treated with implant-supported fixed complete dental prostheses (IFCDPs) after a mean observation period of at least 1 year., Materials and Methods: The single-visit examination included clinical and radiographic assessment, occlusal analysis, photographs and questionnaire assessing patient satisfaction in a cohort of 52 patients rehabilitated with 71 IFCDPs (supported by 457 implants). The IFCDPs were assessed for technical complications, number of implants and cantilever extension, retention type and prosthetic material type. Comparison was made between ceramic IFCDPs (Group 1) and metal-resin IFCDPs (Group 2). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis was carried out for assessment of prosthesis survival and was done for both Groups 1 and 2 separately. The Cox proportional hazard model was used for survival analysis, adjusting for a number of potential confounders, to evaluate the association between prosthesis survival and several risk factors such as type of opposing occlusion, nightguard use, and presence of bruxism. Responses to patient satisfaction questions were compared with Fisher's exact test., Results: Out of 71 edentulous arches (52 patients) restored with IFCDPs, 6 IFCDPs had failed, yielding a cumulative prosthesis survival rate of 91.6 % after a mean observation period of 5.2 years (range: 1-12 years) after definitive prosthesis insertion. Three IFCDPs were lost due to implant failures after 5.8 to 11 years of functional loading. Additionally, 3 metal-resin IFCDPs failed due to technical complications. Minor complications were the most frequent complications observed, namely wear of the prosthetic material (9.8% annual rate) being the most common, followed by decementation of cement-retained IFCDPs (2.9%), and loss of the screw access filing material of the screw-retained IFCDPs (2.7%). The most frequently observed major complication was fracture of the prosthetic material (1.9% annual rate), followed by fracture of occlusal screw (0.3%), and fracture of framework (0.3%). The annual rate of wear of prosthetic material was 7.3% for porcelain IFCDPs (n = 19/55) and 19.4% for metal-resin IFCDPs (n = 13/16), yielding a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (p = 0.01)., Conclusions: After a mean exposure time of 5.2 years, 91.6% prosthesis survival rates were achieved (65 out of 71 IFCDPs). The most frequent minor technical complication was wear of the prosthetic material with estimated 5-year rate of 49.0%, while the most frequent major complication was fracture of the prosthetic material with estimated 5-year dental unit-based rate of 9.5%. The cumulative rates for "prosthesis free of minor complications" at 5- and 10-years were 60.5% (95% CI: 47.2-71.3%) and 8.9% (95% CI: 2.9-18.0%), respectively. The cumulative rates for "prosthesis free of major technical complications" at 5- and 10-years were 85.5% (95% CI: 73.0-92.5%) and 30.1% (95% CI: 12.0-50.6%), respectively. Presence of bruxism, and absence of a nightguard were associated with increased risk for chipping of the prosthetic material of the IFCDPs., (© 2019 by the American College of Prosthodontists.)

Statement of Problem: Long-term outcomes with metal-ceramic (MC) implant-supported fixed complete dental prostheses (IFCDPs) are scarce., Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the rate of biologic and technical complications in a cohort of edentulous patients treated with MC IFCDPs by residents after a mean clinical follow-up of 5 years (range: 1 to 12 years)., Material and Methods: Forty-one participants with 55 MC IFCDPs underwent a single-visit comprehensive examination that included a medical and dental history review and clinical and radiographic examinations. All supporting implants and prostheses were examined for biologic and technical complications. Life table analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were calculated., Results: Of 359 moderately rough surface dental implants, 2 had failed in 1 patient after 11 years of functional loading, yielding a cumulative implant survival rate of 99.4%. Owing to the implant failure, 1 of 55 edentulous arches restored with IFCDPs failed, yielding a cumulative prosthesis survival rate of 98.2% after mean observation period of 5.0 years. Soft tissue recession was the most frequent minor biologic complication (annual rate 7.8% at the prosthesis level) for both cement and screw-retained IFCDPs (group C and S), and peri-implantitis (annual rate 1.6% at the implant level) the most frequent major biologic complication. Wear of porcelain (annual rate 8.0% at the prosthesis level) was the most frequent minor technical complication for both groups, and fracture of porcelain (annual rate 0.8% at the dental-unit level) was the most frequent major technical complication. Minor complications were the most frequent in both the groups (cement and screw retained)., Conclusions: High implant and prosthesis survival rates (above 98%) were achieved, yet substantial complication rates were encountered. The most frequent major biologic complication was peri-implantitis, with a 5-year implant-based rate of 8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.8-11.1), whereas the most frequent major complication was fracture of porcelain with a 5-year dental unit-based rate of 4%. The estimated cumulative rates for "prosthesis free of biologic complications" were 50.4% (95% CI: 36.4% to 63.0%) at 5 years and 10.1% (95% CI: 3.5% to 20.8%) at 10 years, whereas for "prosthesis free of technical complications," they were 56.4% (95% CI: 41.7% to 68.8%) at 5 years and 9.8% (95% CI: 3.2% to 21.0%) at 10 years., (Copyright © 2019 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To retrospectively assess complications and clinical and radiographic outcomes of edentulous patients treated with double full-arch implant-supported fixed complete dental prostheses (IFCDPs) after a mean observation period of 5.1 years., Materials and Methods: The single-visit clinical and radiographic examination included medical and dental history review and clinical assessment of biologic and technical complications encountered with all implants and IFCDPs. Life table analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were calculated. Analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between prosthesis survival and several risk factors such as type of opposing occlusion, nightguard use, and presence of bruxism., Results: Nineteen edentulous patients restored with 38 IFCDPs were included. A total of 249 implants were placed and 2 implants failed after a mean observation period of 5.1 years (range: 1-12 years), yielding an overall implant survival rate of 99.2% and prosthesis survival rate of 92.1%. Three out of 38 IFCDPs were lost, 1 after implant losses and 2 due to technical complications. The most frequent minor biologic complication was soft tissue recession with an estimated 5-year rate of 45.5% (95% CI: 39.4-57.5), while the most frequent major complication was peri-implantitis with an estimated 5-year implant-based rate of 9.5% (95% CI: 6.7-11.3). The most frequent minor technical complication was wear of the prosthetic material with an estimated 5-year rate of 49.0% (95% CI: 37.4-76.4), while the most frequent major technical complication was fracture of the prosthetic material with an estimated 5-year dental unit-based rate of 8.0% (95% CI: 6.6-10.1)., Conclusions: After a mean use time of 5.1 years, high implant and prosthesis survival rates were observed. The most frequent major biologic complication was peri-implantitis, and the most frequent major technical complication was fracture of the prosthetic material. The 5-year estimated cumulative rates for "prosthesis free of biologic complications" was 50.7% (95% CI: 33.7-65.4) and for "prosthesis free of technical complications" was 57.1% (95% CI: 39.3-71.5)., (© 2019 by the American College of Prosthodontists.)

Objectives: To assess the rate of biologic complications and implant survival in edentulous patients treated with implant-supported fixed complete dental prostheses (IFCDPs) after a mean observation period of 5.2 years (range: 1-12 years)., Materials and Methods: A single-visit clinical and radiographic examination was performed to assess types and rates of biologic complications with ceramic IFCDPs (Group 1) and metal-resin IFCDPs (Group 2)., Results: Of 457 rough surface dental implants supporting 71 IFCDPs (52 patients), six had failed, yielding an implant survival rate of 98.7% after a mean observation period of 5.2 years after definitive prosthesis insertion. The most frequent minor biologic complication was soft tissue recession (7.7% annual rate), inflammation under the IFCDP (7.4% annual rate), and peri-implant mucositis (6.3% annual rate). The most frequent major biologic complication was peri-implantitis (2.0% annual rate), in 46/457 implants (10.1%) supporting 19 IFCDPs and late implant failure (0.3% annual rate). The frequency of biologic complications was not statistically different between Group 1 and Group 2. The presence of high plaque index had significant effect on bone loss., Conclusions: After a mean exposure time of 5.2 years postdefinitive prosthesis insertion (range: 1-12 years), implant survival rate of 98.7% was achieved. The six implant failures in three patients occurred after 5 years and affected the prosthesis survival. Soft tissue recession was the most frequent minor biologic complication, whereas peri-implantitis was the most frequent major biologic complication. A 10-year implant-based mucosal recession rate of 77% (95% CI: 68.2-87.9) and a 10-year implant-based peri-implantitis rate of 20% (95% CI: 16.9-24.9) were found., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Restoring multiple adjacent missing teeth in the anterior maxilla is one of the most challenging situations in clinical implant dentistry, as restorations need to be both functional and highly esthetic. The purpose of this article is to highlight the issues that arise during treatment planning for replacement of six missing maxillary anterior teeth with implant-supported fixed dental prostheses. Representative clinical reports are provided to illustrate the treatment planning and surgical and prosthodontic management. The authors describe the rationale for selecting the appropriate number and location of implants in relation to the amount of missing soft and hard tissues to achieve functional and esthetic prostheses.

Monolithic ceramics have been introduced in dentistry to help reduce technical complications reported with implant-supported metal-resin hybrid prostheses. This clinical report describes the maintenance and technical complications that occurred during a full-mouth implant rehabilitation using different prosthetic materials over a 7-year period. During the course of 4 of those years, multiple technical complications were encountered with the metal-resin hybrid prostheses, prompting the need for increased maintenance.New prostheses were inserted with screw-retained titanium frameworks and individually cemented single crowns, and subsequently no technical complications were encountered after 2 years of follow-up.

Objective: To illustrate a digital workflow in full-arch implant rehabilitation with minimally veneered monolithic zirconia and to report the outcomes including technical complications., Clinical Considerations: Three patients (5 edentulous arches) received full-arch fixed implant rehabilitation with monolithic zirconia and mild facial porcelain veneering involving a digital workflow. The incisal edges and occluding surface areas were milled out of monolithic zirconia to reduce the possibility of chipping. Porcelain veneering was applied on the facial aspect to improve the esthetic result. Outcomes and technical complications are reported after 2 years of clinical and radiographic follow-up., Conclusion: Implant and prosthesis survival rates were 100% after a short-term follow-up of 2 years. Technical complications were encountered in one patient. They did not adversely affect prosthesis survival or patient satisfaction and were easily addressed. A digital workflow for the design and fabrication of full-arch monolithic zirconia implant fixed implant prostheses has benefits, but caution is necessary during CAD planning of the prosthesis to ensure a successful outcome. Long-term clinical studies are needed to corroborate the findings discussed in this report., Clinical Significance: This article presents an integrated digital workflow that was implemented for the implant-prosthodontic rehabilitation of three edentulous patients with monolithic zirconia prostheses. Monolithic zirconia has been successfully incorporated in implant prosthodontics in an effort to reduce the technical complications associated with bilayered ceramics. This workflow simplifies design and fabrication of the zirconia prostheses. However, caution should be taken during CAD planning of the prosthesis to make sure the zirconia cylinder is sufficiently thick at the interface with the titanium insert. Additionally, when cutback is planned for facial porcelain veneering, the functional occluding cusps and incisal edges should be fabricated in monolithic zirconia to avoid chipping., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: To present a rationale to reduce treatment complexity, number of surgeries, and overall treatment time for patients with extreme mandibular ridge deficiency., Clinical Considerations: A 67-year-old fully edentulous male presented with a chief complaint of poor retention and stability of the mandibular complete denture with consequent discomfort and inability to chew. A novel 3-appointment protocol from guided implant placement to definitive prosthesis delivery was implemented. At the first appointment, a guided surgery protocol with the All-on-4 concept was used in the mandible. Implant placement was followed by immediate loading with a fixed provisional prosthesis providing the patient with immediate function. Final impression, cast verification and articulation, determination of VDO, and interocclusal records were obtained in the same appointment. In the second appointment, the framework try-in was performed and a pick-up impression was taken after a new CR record. The third appointment included the delivery of the final screw-retained, one-piece, full-arch prosthesis opposed by a maxillary complete denture., Conclusion: This expedited protocol allows for implant placement with a surgical template generated from preoperative virtual planning of the implants and the CAD/CAM prosthodontic rehabilitation using a digital workflow. The patient was satisfied with the esthetic and functional outcome and was enrolled into a 6-month recall program., Clinical Significance: This article describes an expedited protocol illustrating a digital workflow for full arch implant rehabilitation of the extremely atrophic mandible. Flapless implant placement with a surgical template generated from virtual planning was followed by immediate loading with a fixed prosthesis. Digital impression/digitization of the working cast and CAD/CAM technology were used to mill the definitive prosthesis. From guided surgery to the definitive rehabilitation only three appointments were necessary. This digital workflow can enhance patient acceptance and comfort and serve as an alternative treatment in the indicated clinical scenario. (J Esthet Restor Dent 29:178-188, 2017)., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of different splinting materials to make implant cast verification jigs. The secondary aim was to assess the effect of 20° implant angulation on the accuracy of casts., Materials and Methods: An edentulous mandibular arch with five internal connection tissue level implants served as control. The three implants in the anterior region were parallel to each other and the two implants in the posterior region were distally tilted 20° bilaterally. Verification jigs were fabricated with three different materials by splinting prefabricated bars to temporary abutments, resulting in three different groups (n = 15 specimens). Test casts were fabricated with low expansion type IV stone, and subsequently digitized with reference scanner. The STL files from the test casts and the control were superimposed, in order to determine the three-dimensional (3D) deviations., Results: Group 1 (GC Pattern Resin) had a mean (SD) value of 36.59 (12.47) μm; Group 2 (Fixpeed Resin) had a mean (SD) value of 35.9 (10.13) μm; and Group 3 (Triad Gel) had a mean (SD) of 34.12 (7.10) μm. One-way ANOVA showed no statistically significant difference between groups (p = 0.790). For the comparative analysis of the effect of implant angulation, data were normally distributed for Groups 1 and 3 (GC Resin and Triad Gel), but not for group 2 (Fixpeed Resin). The difference between parallel and tilted implants was significant for all three groups: GC Resin (p = 0.024; paired t-test), Fixpeed Resin (p = 0.002; Wilcoxon signed-rank test), and Triad Gel (p = 0.002; paired t-test)., Conclusions: There were no statistically significant differences between the 3D deviations of the test casts fabricated from verification jigs made by three materials (GC Pattern Resin, Fixpeed Resin, and Triad Gel). Parallel implants had nominally significantly less 3D deviations compared with 20° distally tilted implants, but not clinically significant., Clinical Significance: The results of the present study indicate that more than 20° of angulation, has an effect on the 3D accuracy. However, even though the tilted implants had nominally significantly more 3D deviation, it was not clinically significant. The clinical implications of this in vitro study are relevant to the popular full-arch implant rehabilitation concept of tilted and axial implants such as the All-on-four concept. Tilting the posterior implants to increase the antero-posterior spread increases the implant angulation which is then corrected with 30° angulated abutments. This in vitro study shows that even after correction with angulated abutments if the remaining angulation is up to 20°, framework fit may still be achieved. Verification jig is essential tool to achieve the framework fit. (J Esthet Restor Dent 29:102-109, 2017)., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The surgical and prosthodontic management of patients with multiple missing teeth in the anterior maxilla can be challenging. The purpose of this clinical report is to illustrate the 2-year outcome after immediate implant placement in unintentional close proximity with the adjacent root. Following uneventful healing, the definitive implant rehabilitation was done with a modified monolithic zirconia framework and porcelain veneers bonded to the framework. The patient's satisfaction with the functional and esthetic outcomes remained high throughout the observation time, with no symptoms or biologic and technical complications.

A fixed dental prosthesis can be secured to an endosseous implant via cementation (using a provisional or definitive cement) on an implant abutment that is screw retained to the implant or directly in the implant via screw retention. The clinical decision as to which retention system best suits the individual patient depends on several factors. The aim of this review is to present a detailed overview of the factors potentially influencing whether to choose screw retention or cement retention. These factors include the individual indication, advantages and disadvantages of the different retention mechanisms, the retention provided, retrievability, provisionalization, esthetics and clinical performance, including failures and complications. The results of recently published systematic reviews on this topic are discussed and an overview is provided. A decision tree is presented to facilitate the clinical selection of the retention type. This overview concludes that the choice of retention type (screw retained or cement retained) might not influence the overall survival of the implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis, but may be responsible for the development of certain complications. The decision may depend on technical feasibility and on weighing the pros and cons., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of connection type and impression technique on the accuracy of fit of implant-supported fixed complete-arch dental prostheses (IFCDPs)., Materials and Methods: An edentulous mandibular cast with five implants was fabricated to serve as master cast (control) for both implant- and abutment-level baselines. A titanium one-piece framework for an IFCDP was milled at abutment level and used for accuracy of fit measurements. Polyether impressions were made using a splinted and non-splinted technique at the implant and abutment level leading to four test groups, n = 10 each. Hence, four groups of test casts were generated. The impression accuracy was evaluated indirectly by assessing the fit of the IFCDP framework on the generated casts of the test groups, clinically and radiographically. Additionally, the control and all test casts were digitized with a high-resolution reference scanner (IScan D103i, Imetric, Courgenay, Switzerland) and standard tessellation language datasets were generated and superimposed. Potential correlations between the clinical accuracy of fit data and the data from the digital scanning were investigated. To compare the accuracy of casts of the test groups versus the control at the implant and abutment level, Fisher's exact test was used., Results: Of the 10 casts of test group I (implant-level splint), all 10 presented with accurate clinical fit when the framework was seated on its respective cast, while only five of 10 casts of test group II (implant-level non-splint) showed adequate fit. All casts of group III (abutment-level splint) presented with accurate fit, whereas nine of 10 of the casts of test group IV (abutment-level non-splint) were accurate. Significant 3D deviations (P < 0.05) were found between group II and the control. No statistically significant differences were found between groups I, III, and IV compared with the control. Implant connection type (implant level vs. abutment level) and impression technique did affect the 3D accuracy of implant impressions only with the non-splint technique (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: For one-piece IFCDPs, the implant-level splinted impression technique showed to be more accurate than the non-splinted approach, whereas at the abutment-level, no difference in the accuracy was found., (© 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The purpose of this clinical study was to compare peri-implant crestal bone levels between misfitting (overhanging/open margin) cement-retained implant single crowns (SCs) vs accurately fitted implant SCs. Seventeen subjects were divided into two groups: test group (misfitting crowns, n = 10) and control group (accurately fitted crowns, n = 7). Crestal bone level changes were assessed using digital software. The average differences in mean bone loss within and between the two groups were statistically significant. Cement-retained implant SCs with marginal misfit resulted in more crestal bone loss than accurately fitted crowns after a mean of 3 years in function.

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the incidence and types of biologic and technical complications associated with implant-supported fixed complete dental prostheses (IFCDPs) for edentulous patients., Materials and Methods: An electronic MEDLINE/PubMED search was conducted to identify randomized controlled clinical trials and prospective cohort studies with IFCDPs for edentulous patients. Reports with at least 5 years of follow-up after prosthesis insertion were selected. Pooled data were analyzed statistically, and the cumulative complication rates were calculated by meta-analysis and regression., Results: Of a total of 281 one-piece IFCDPs (mean exposure time of 9.5 years) and 653 complication events, the complication rate was estimated at 24.6% per 100 restoration-years. The cumulative rates of "prosthesis free of complications" after 5 and 10 years were 29.3% and 8.6%, respectively. The most common implantrelated biologic complication was peri-implant bone loss (> 2 mm), at rates of 20.1% after 5 years and 40.3% after 10 years. The most frequent implant-related technical complication was screw fracture, yielding a 5-year complication rate of 10.4% and a 10-year rate of 20.8%. The most frequent prosthesis-related biologic complication was hypertrophy or hyperplasia of tissue around the IFCDPs (13.0% and 26.0% after 5 and 10 years, respectively). The most common prosthesis-related technical complication reported with IFCDPs was chipping or fracture of the veneering material (33.3% at 5 years and 66.6% at 10 years)., Conclusion: Biologic and technical complications after the placement of IFCDPs occur continuously over time as a result of fatigue and stress. These events may not lead to implant/prosthetic failures, but they are significant in relation to the amount of repair and maintenance needed, time, and cost to both the clinician and patient.

Purpose: The effect of different implant impression techniques on the accuracy of casts has been investigated mostly in vitro, and clinically relevant evidence is scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of implant impression techniques--specifically, splinted versus nonsplinted--on the accuracy of fit of fixed implant prostheses in edentulous patients., Materials and Methods: This clinical study included 12 edentulous patients (13 edentulous arches). All patients had undergone computer-guided, prosthetically driven implant surgery. Splinted (with acrylic resin) and nonsplinted pickup implant impression techniques were used to generate two different casts. Intraoral verification jigs were made to fabricate a third index cast (prosthesis fabrication cast); these made up a control group. All patients were definitively rehabilitated with one-piece zirconia prostheses. The accuracy of fit of each prosthesis was evaluated indirectly by examining them clinically and radiographically while they were fit on the generated casts., Results: Of the 13 splinted casts, 12 presented with accurate clinical fit when the zirconia prosthesis was seated on its respective cast. Only 6 of the 13 nonsplinted casts showed accurate clinical fit. The zirconia prostheses fit accurately on all respective casts of the control group (prosthesis fabrication cast) as well as intraorally. The differences between the test groups and between the nonsplinted and control groups were statistically significant. No statistically significant differences were found between the splinted and control groups., Conclusion: There is clinical evidence that the splinted impression technique generates more accurate implant impressions and master casts than the nonsplinted technique for complete-arch, one-piece fixed prostheses.

The complete dental rehabilitation of a patient with a failing dentition using fixed implant-supported prostheses requires carefully planned and well-sequenced treatment. This case report presents the treatment steps and sequencing for a patient in whom removable provisional prostheses were not an option. While an immediate loading protocol was used in the mandible, a staged approach featuring strategic extractions and implant placement in several phases was applied in the maxilla. The major advantage of this treatment protocol was that the patient was maintained in fixed prostheses throughout the treatment.

Background: The question of the importance of keratinized mucosa around dental implants for the prevention of peri-implant disease could not be answered in the relevant literature so far., Objective: To investigate the influence of peri-implant keratinized mucosa on long-term peri-implant soft-tissue health and stability over a period of 5 years., Material and Methods: A total of 386 mandibular dental implants were placed in 73 completely edentulous patients, and subsequently restored with fixed full-arch prostheses. At prosthesis delivery (baseline) and after 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months, modified plaque index (mPlI), modified sulcus bleeding index (mBI), distance between implant shoulder and mucosal margin (DIM) and width of peri-implant keratinized mucosa (KM) were recorded. Statistical analysis included multivariate logistic regression, multivariate ordinal logistic regression, generalized estimating equations and Bonferroni's correction., Results: Fifty-eight patients with 307 implants completed the 5-year study. Statistically significantly higher plaque accumulation on lingual sites (mean mPlI 0.67, SD 0.85), bleeding tendencies on lingual sites (mean mBI 0.22, SD 0.53) and larger soft-tissue recession on buccal sites (mean DIM -0.69 mm, SD 1.11 mm) were found when the width of KM was <2 mm, compared to sites with>or=2 mm of KM (mean mPlI 0.40, SD 0.68, P=0.001; mean mBI 0.13, SD 0.41, P<0.01; mean DIM -0.08 mm, SD 0.86 mm, P<0.001). The width of keratinized mucosa had no effect on bleeding tendency or plaque accumulation on buccal sites (P>0.05)., Conclusion: In patients exercising good oral hygiene and receiving regular implant maintenance therapy, implants with a reduced width of <2 mm of peri-implant keratinized mucosa were more prone to lingual plaque accumulation and bleeding as well as buccal soft-tissue recession over a period of 5 years.

Background: This descriptive study reviewed the 1- to 15-year survival rates of fixed implant rehabilitations in the edentulous maxilla., Methods: An electronic search was conducted, and cohort studies with 1- to 15-year follow-ups were identified by two independent reviewers. The implant and prosthodontic survival rates were reviewed at 1-, 3-, 5-, 10-, and 15-year endpoints. Descriptive analysis includes surface characteristics, bone-augmentation procedure, prosthetic design, and implant number and distribution along the edentulous maxilla., Results: Thirty-three studies, including 1,320 patients and 8,376 implants, were selected for analysis. The overall calculated implant survival rates ranged from 94% (1 year) to 87.7% (15 years). The implant survival rates for rough-surface implants ranged from 97% (1 year) to 98% (15 years); machined implants showed survival rates of 92% to 87.7%; respectively. Implants placed in native bone had greater survival rates than those placed in augmented bone. The prosthodontic survival rate ranged from 98.2% at 1 year to 92.1% at the 10-year endpoint, and it was only influenced by the implant number and distribution., Conclusions: Implants with rough surfaces showed a statistically higher survival rate than machined implants at all intervals. Implants placed in augmented bone had a statistically lower survival rate, except for rough-surface implants, for which no statistical difference between augmented and non-augmented bone survival rates was found. Machined implants showed a stable survival rate only when placed in native bone. When machined implants were placed in augmented bone, the survival rate decreased significantly at each study endpoint. The prosthetic design, veneering material, and the number of prostheses per arch had no influence on the prosthodontic survival rate. Implant number and distribution along the edentulous maxilla seemed to influence the prosthodontic survival rate.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the survival rate, success rate and primary complications associated with mandibular fixed implant-supported rehabilitations with distal cantilevers over 5 years of function., Material and Methods: In this prospective multi-center trial, 45 fully edentulous patients were treated with implant-supported mandibular hybrid prostheses with distal extension cantilevers. Data were collected at numerous time points, including but not limited to: implant placement, abutment placement, final prosthesis delivery, 3 months and 5 years post-loading. Biological, implant and prosthetic parameters defining survival and success were evaluated for each implant including: sulcus bleeding ndex (SBI) at four sites per implant, width of facial and lingual keratinized gingiva (mm), peri-implant mucosal level (mid-facial from the top of the implant collar, measured in mm), modified plaque index (MPI) at four sites per implant, mobility and peri-implant radiolucency. Survival was defined as implants or prostheses that did not need to be replaced. Success rate was defined as meeting well-established criteria that were chosen to indicate healthy peri-implant mucosa osseointegration, prostheses success and complications., Results: A total of 237 implants in 45 completely edentulous patients were included in the study. In each patient, four to six implants were placed to support hybrid prostheses with distal cantilevers. Cantilevers ranged in length from 6 to 21 mm, with an average length of 15.6 mm. The ages of the patients ranged from 34 to 78 with a mean age of 59.5 years. The survival rate of implants was 100% (237/237) and for prostheses 95.5% (43/45). The overall treatment success rate was calculated as 86.7% (39/45). Of the six patients that have not met the criteria for success, two patients required replacement of the entire prosthesis and four patients presented >four complications events., Conclusion: Fixed implant-supported rehabilitation with distal cantilever resulted in a reliable treatment modality over the 5-year observation period. Although biological parameters of MPI, SBI, keratinized tissue and peri-implant mucosal levels showed statistically significant differences over time, the mean values for each patient remained within the normal limits of oral health. Complications were categorized as biological or technical. The majority of complications were technical complications (54/79) and of these most involved fracture of the acrylic teeth and base (20/54). While the survival rate was 100% for implants and 95.5% for prostheses, the application of strict criteria for treatment success resulted in an overall treatment success rate of 86.7%.

Purpose: The objective of this systematic review was to present the current scientific and clinical evidence related to implant-supported rehabilitations for the edentulous mandible and maxilla., Materials and Methods: An electronic search of several databases covered the period from January 1966 to August 2008. From a total of 2,371 publications identified from this search, 61 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria set forth by the authors. It should be noted that only studies reporting on implants with rough surfaces were included in the final selection for this review., Results: Selected studies yielded data from 2,278 patients and 9,701 implants. Studies were grouped according to treatment protocol and prosthodontic design, and results on conventional, early, and immediate loading were assessed separately for fixed and removable dental prostheses. Clinical recommendations for implant loading in different edentulous indications were established using a special validation protocol of the published scientific and clinical evidence for different treatment modalities, which was based on the study design, sample size, and outcome homogeneity between studies., Conclusions: The highest level of scientific and clinical validation was found for conventional loading with mandibular overdentures and maxillary fixed dental prostheses. Insufficient scientific or clinical documentation/validation was found for immediate loading of maxillary overdentures, as well as for immediate loading of immediately placed implants combined with fixed or removable dental prostheses in either jaw. All other loading protocols for edentulous arches showed different degrees of clinical documentation.

Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the existing scientific evidence on human clinical studies describing the application of computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology in restorative implant dentistry., Materials and Methods: Electronic searches for clinical studies from 1966 through May 2008 focusing on long-term follow-up were performed using the PubMed search engine. Concentrating on the restorative aspect of the CAD/CAM technology applicable to implant dentistry, pertinent literature was divided into articles related to implant abutments and implant frameworks., Results: Of the 885 articles initially reviewed, 5 articles (3 CAD/CAM framework and 2 CAD/CAM abutment) satisfied the search criteria of the literature search performed. Combining the results from the framework clinical trial studies, there were a total of 189 prostheses supported by 888 implants. The follow-up varied between 12 and 60 months. Four implants were lost prior to the insertion of the prosthesis and 46 after the insertion. One prosthesis failure was reported. Similarly, in the 2 abutment clinical trial studies there were a total of 53 ceramic abutments supported by 53 implants. The patients were followed between 12 and 44 months. No significant failures or complications were reported in association with the implants and their restorations., Conclusions: Based on a systematic review of literature concerning CAD/CAM used for fabrication of frameworks and abutments, preliminary proof of concept was established. Clinical studies on the use of these techniques were too preliminary and underpowered to provide meaningful conclusions regarding the performance of these abutments/frameworks.

Purpose: Implant restoration of the partially edentulous patient has become highly predictable. The scientific information on the specifics of restorative designs and their influence on the long-term outcome is sparse. The main objective of this systematic review was to determine what scientific evidence exists regarding the influence of prosthodontic design features on the long-term outcomes of implant therapy (implant success and survival, prosthesis success and survival) in the partially edentulous patient., Materials and Methods: Four questions of primary interest regarding implant prosthodontic design options were selected by the 2 reviewers: abutment type, retention type (cemented, screw-retained), support type (implant support alone versus combined implant-tooth support), and the type of restorative material. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were formulated and applied to a total of 1,720 titles. The list of titles was primarily based on a PubMed-type search provided by the State of the Science of Implant Dentistry workshop leadership. It was supplemented by a hand search of relevant journals at the Countway Library of the Harvard Medical School and of a personal collection of relevant publications of the 2 reviewers. Information on the survival and success of implants and prostheses as defined by the respective authors was retrieved from the included articles, entered into data extraction tables, and submitted for statistical analysis., Results: Seventy-four articles were selected for data extraction and analysis after critical appraisal and application of the exclusion criteria. The kappa value for reviewer agreement was 100% between the 2 reviewers. The majority of studies were in the "average" range and were published between 1995 and 2003. Only 2 "best" trials, ie, randomized controlled clinical trials, were identified. For the method of retention (screw-retained versus cemented), no differences were found in implant success or survival rates between screw-retained and cemented restorations. Prosthesis success rates showed greater variations between cemented and screw-retained restorations at the various evaluation times; however, the differences never reached statistical significance. The prosthesis success rate at the last reported examination (> 72 mo) was 93.2% for cemented and 83.4% for screw-retained restorations (P > .05). Regarding the type of support, implant success rates at the last reported evaluation were 97.1% for implant-supported fixed partial dentures (FPDs), 94.3% for single-implant restorations, and 89.2% for implant-tooth-supported FPDs. None of the differences reached statistical significance. Implant survival at the last examination (> 72 mo) was highest for implant-supported FPDs (97.7%), followed by single-implant restorations (95.6%) and implant-tooth-supported FPDs (91.1%). Differences were not statistically significant. Prosthesis success at the last examination (> 72 mo) resulted in overall lower percentage rates than implant success or survival (89.7% for implant-supported FPDs, 87.5% for implant-tooth-supported FPDs, and 85.4% for single-implant restorations; differences not statistically significant). Insufficient extractable information was available regarding the influence of abutment type or restorative material., Conclusion: The scientific evidence obtained from this review is insufficient to establish unequivocal clinical guidelines for the design of implant-supported fixed prostheses in the partially edentulous patient.

When using a conventional implant treatment protocol in edentulous patients, reduced function and comfort for up to 6 months after implant surgery is inevitable until bone healing is complete and a prosthesis is securely attached to the implants. The following report highlights 2 treatment modalities that enable immediate function by inserting provisional prostheses immediately after implant placement.

To stabilize mandibular overdentures in edentulous patients, various connector types which can be attached to between two and four implants placed in the anterior mandible are possible. Treatment using non-rigid telescopic connectors on two interforaminal implants for overdenture stabilization began in 1989. The objective of this study is to investigate soft- and hard-tissue conditions as well as prosthesis function after a period of 10 years. This also involved an evaluation of correlations between radiographic and clinical parameters. Twenty-three subjects with 46 interforaminal implants (ITI solid screw implants, 12 mm in length, 4.1 mm in diameter; 10.4 years in situ, range, 8-12.8 years) were investigated. Modified plaque index (mPI), sulcus fluid flow rate (SFFR), modified sulcus bleeding index (mBI), probing depth (PD), distance from implant crown margin to the coronal border of the peri-implant mucosa (DIM), attachment level (AL), width of keratinized mucosa (KM), Periotest values (PTVs) and prosthesis function were evaluated. In the radiographic evaluation, the distance between implant shoulder and first crestal bone-implant contact (DIB) in mm and the horizontal bone loss (HBL) in mm were measured. The relatively high mPI scores (mean, 0.82; score, 0 in 44.4%; SD, 0.83) did not result in increased SFFR scores (mean, 12; min, 3, max, 38; SD, 7.43) or higher mBI scores (mean, 0.35; score, 0 in 70.8%; SD, 0.59), which was commensurate with healthy peri-implant mucosa. A mean PD value of 2.15 mm (min, 1 mm; max, 5 mm; SD, 0.96) and a mean DIM value of 0.28 mm (min, 0 mm; max, 2 mm; SD, 0.52) were measured. The implants were stable, showing a mean Periotest value of -1.91 (max, 02, min, -6; SD, 1.76). A mean DIB of 3.19+/-0.95 mm (range, 1.3-5.16 mm) and a mean HBL of 1.6+/-1.52 mm (range, 0.28-8.33 mm) were calculated. A correlation was found between DIB and the parameters SFFR (P=0.060), DIM (P=0.042), AL (P=0.050) and especially PTV (P<0.01), leading to the assumption that these clinical parameters may be useful indicators of peri-implant bone loss. The results of the 10-year follow-up examination show that non-rigid telescopic connectors with two interforaminal implants for overdenture stabilization appear to be an efficient and effective long-term treatment modality in severely resorbed edentulous mandibles. Particularly in geriatric patient treatment this concept may provide advantages in terms of handling, cleaning and long-term satisfaction.

The use of dental implants to assist in the treatment of partial and complete edentulism is well documented. Most of the implant literature, however, reports results associated with implant survival and success when there has been adherence to rigid placement and loading protocols. Conventionally, these protocols call for the undisturbed healing of the implant-3 months in the mandible and 4 to 6 months in the maxilla. This article evaluates the literature and develops protocols for clinical procedures for the early or immediate restoration or loading of dental implants. Criteria are established for defining immediate loading, immediate restoration, early loading, and early restoration as compared to conventional protocols. The review assesses factors that influence accelerated loading and restoration decisions, including bone quality and quantity, implant design, splinting of implants, and prosthetic design. Conclusions and recommendations are made based on the experience of the consensus group charged with considering these procedures and on the current literature published on these protocols.