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To assess clinical, radiological performance of novel navigation guided socket-shield technique (NSS) with immediate implant placement and loading.Eighteen patients (12 females; age 52.54 ± 4.92; 33-72) treated between January 2018 and June 2019, were investigated, and followed for at least 1 year after definitive prosthesis placement (mean 20.1 months, 18-23). Primary outcomes: implant and prosthetic success rates, surgical, biologic, prosthetic complications.marginal bone loss (MBL), implant stability quotient (ISQ), pink esthetic score (PES), plaque and bleeding indexes.Sixty-nine navigation guided socket-shield procedures were performed (27 implant-sites and 42 pontic-sites) and 27 implants (NobelParallel, NobelBiocare AG) positioned and immediately loaded. Mean insertion torque and ISQ at implant positioning were 49 ± 5.34 Ncm (36-74), 73 ± 5.72 (68-81). No implant failure was experienced. Two root-shield exposures with mucositis, ulceration and bleeding were reported at two pontic-sites (2.9%) and successfully treated. No complications were experienced at implant-site leading to an overall NSS success-rate of 100%. No prosthetic complications occurred. Mean MBL was -0.72 ± 0.26 mm (-0.42 to -1.06 mm). PES final at the last follow-up 12.84 ± 0.92. The plaque and bleeding scores were 18.5 ± 6.12 and 3.15 ± 2.21.Within study limitations, dynamic navigation was effective to streamline execution of socket-shield technique at implant and pontic sites, shortening treatment time and reducing complications. Navigation guided socket-shield technique was reliable to achieve digitally planned shield-to-implant distance, facilitate immediate implant placement and loading and establish the mucosal dimension needed for underlying bone-to-implant protection and esthetic integration.The investigated NSS technique overcomes the difficulties related to root preparation at implant and pontic-sites, facilitating immediate implant placement and loading. Dynamic guided surgery contributed to make socket-shield technique less technical-sensitive, shortening time for execution, reducing complication rate.

Background: This study gives an update on the characteristics of Belgian osteopaths five years after the Benelux Osteosurvey. Additional new data were collected on their professional identity and views on the profession. Methods: All Belgian osteopaths who could be contacted (n = 1473) were invited to complete a voluntary, online-based, closed-ended survey distributed between May and September 2018. The survey, composed of 52 questions and seven sections, was formally translated from English to Dutch and French and adapted from the original version. Adult, self-defined osteopaths working in Belgium were eligible. Recruitment of participants was performed through all professional associations and the InterMutualistic Agency. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Results: The survey was completed by 332 osteopaths. Thirty-one per cent of the respondents were female. Almost all the respondents were self-employed (99.4%); half of them worked as part of a team (47.6%). Most respondents had a 5-year part-time training, and the majority had a previous academic degree, mainly in physical therapy (65.8%). According to respondents, most patients seek care for lumbar non-specific low back, pelvis and neck pain. Most respondents strongly define themselves as osteopaths and advertise themselves exclusively as osteopaths. Conclusions: This survey provided an update of the current characteristics of Belgian osteopathic practitioners and added new information on their professional identity and views on the profession. The information provided could contribute to the body of evidence used by stakeholders and policymakers in the future regulation of the profession in Belgium.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of implant scanbody (ISB) wear on the accuracy of digital impression for complete-arch. A polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) edentulous mandibular model with four internal hexagonal interlocking conical connections was scanned with an extraoral optical scanner to achieve a reference file. Four cylindrical polyetheretherketone (PEEK) ISBs were scanned 30 times with IOS, and the test files were aligned to the reference file with a best-fit algorithm. For each analog linear (ΔX, ΔY and ΔZ-axis) and angular deviations (ΔANGLE) were assessed. Euclidean distance (ΔEUC) was calculated from the linear deviation, reporting a mean of 82 µm (SD 61) ranging from 8 to 347 µm. ΔANGLE error mean was 0.33° (SD 0.20), ranging from 0.02 to 0.92°. From a multivariate analysis, when ΔEUC was considered as a response variable, a significant influence of ISB wear by scan number in interaction to position for implant 3.6 was identified (p < 0.0001); when ΔANGLE was considered as a response variable, a significant effect of position 3.6 was recorded ((p < 0.0001). The obtained results showed that the ISB wear negatively influenced the accuracy of IOS, suggesting that ISB base wear could be detrimental for the seating of ISBs on angulated implants.

Introduction Since the previous survey of the osteopathic profession in Austria was almost a decade ago, an update was necessary. The Osteopathic Practitioners Estimates and RAtes (OPERA) project was developed as a Europe-based survey, whereby an updated profile of the profession not only provides new data for Austria, but also allows for a clear comparison with other European countries. Methods A voluntary, online-based, closed-ended survey was distributed across Austria in the period between April and August 2020. The original English OPERA-questionnaire, composed of 52 questions in seven sections, was formally translated in German and adapted to the Austrian situation. Recruitment was performed through social-media and an e-based campaign. Results The survey was completed by 338 individuals, of which 239 (71%) were female, and the median age was 40–49 years. Almost all respondents had preliminary healthcare training, mainly in physiotherapy (72%). The majority of respondents were self-employed (88%) and working as sole practitioners (54%). The median number of consultations per week was 21–25 and the majority of respondents scheduled 46–60 minutes for each consultation (69%). The most commonly used diagnostic techniques were: palpation of position/structure, palpation of tenderness and visual inspection. The most commonly used treatment techniques were cranial, visceral and articulatory/mobilisation techniques. The majority of patients estimated by respondents consulted an osteopath for musculoskeletal complaints mainly localised in the lumbar and cervical region. Although the majority of respondents experience a strong osteopathic identity, only a small proportion (17%) advertise themselves exclusively as osteopaths. Conclusions This study represents the first published document to determine the characteristics of the osteopathic practitioners in Austria using large, national data. It provides new information on where, how, and by whom osteopathic care is delivered. The information provided may contribute to the evidence used by stakeholders and policy makers for the future regulation of the profession in Austria.

To assess accuracy of implant complete-arch digital impression with intraoral scanner (IOS) and implant scanbody splinting (ISS).An edentulous mandibular model with 4 analogues was fabricated. Four polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implant scanbodies (ISBs) were scanned, according to a randomized sequence, by investigated IOS with (ISS+) and without implant scanbody splinting (ISS-), resulting in 30 test and 30 control files. The model was digitized by industrial optical scanner and the related file superimposed to the test and control files by a best fit algorithm. Linear (ΔX, ΔY and ΔZ-axis) and angular deviations (ΔANGLE) were evaluated for each analogue. A global measure of linear absolute error (ΔASS) was calculated considering the sum of absolute linear discrepancies. Influence of ISS and implant position on IOS accuracy was assessed using General Linear Model and possible interaction between ISS and implant position evaluated.Implant position showed a significant main effect (p0.0001) and interaction with ISS (p=0.0454) when ΔASS was considered as response variable. Posterior implants resulted as less accurate. ISS was able to reduce ΔASS for both distal analogues (4.7, p=0.0188). When ΔANGLE was considered as a response variable, implant position and ISS showed significant main and interactive effects (p=0.0039, p0.0001, p0.0001). Analogue 3.6 was associated with highest angular discrepancy. This error was significantly reduced by ISS (p0.0001).Complete-arch implant digital impression with scanbody splinting showed a significant improvement of the overall accuracy, particularly reducing linear and angular deviations at the most critical posterior implant positions.Intraoral scanner accuracy for implant complete-arch digital impression could be improved by a low cost, easy to assemble and use implant scanbodies splinting 3D printed modular chain.

Implant abutment connection was described among the main causes of peri-implant bone resorption. The aim of this in vitro study was to test the coupling capacity, the surface modification of a new hybrid connection and the influence of repeated connection activations caused during the main clinical and laboratory phases. A total of 40 implant-abutment screw retained systems with 10°-conical and internal hexagon connection were tested. The connection was screwed, fixed to the universal test machine, removed the screw and a pull-out test was performed. Test was repeated five times in succession. Also Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to detect microscopically surface modification. Analysis of variance and Tukey tests were used for the statistical analysis. Pull-out test reveals a mean value of 131.35 ± 16.52 Newton Centimeter (N·cm). For each single activation, results from first to fifth were: 113.9 ± 13.02, 126.1 ± 12.81, 138.11 ± 15.15, 138.8 ± 11.90 and 140 ± 12.99 N·cm. A statistically significant difference between the measurements and an increase in the removal force was shown. The collected data supports the use of this new type of connection, resulting in a very strong interface between implant and abutment. Also, repeated activation of connection can promote a better coupling of the implant-abutment interface.

The growing interest in minimally invasive implant placement and delivery of a prefabricated provisional prosthesis immediately, thus minimizing "time to teeth," has led to the development of numerous 3-dimensional (3D) planning software programs. Given the enhancements associated with fully digital workflows, such as better 3D soft-tissue visualization and virtual tooth rendering, computer-guided implant surgery and immediate function has become an effective and reliable procedure. This article describes how modern implant planning software programs provide a comprehensive digital platform that enables efficient interplay between the surgical and restorative aspects of implant treatment. These new technologies that streamline the overall digital workflow allow transformation of the digital wax-up into a personalized, CAD/CAM-milled provisional restoration. Thus, collaborative digital workflows provide a novel approach for time-efficient delivery of a customized, screw-retained provisional restoration on the day of implant surgery, resulting in improved predictability for immediate function in the partially edentate patient.