Hyoid displacement during swallowing function for completely edentulous subjects rehabilitated with mandibular implant retained overdenture.

BACKGROUND: Hyoid bone is attached to the mandible, tongue, larynx, temporal bone, and cervical spine via different types of muscles or ligaments. The tongue, mandible, and hyoid system play a crucial role in swallowing function. This within subject study aimed to evaluate the impact of mandibular implant overdentures on the displacement of the hyoid bones during the swallowing process. METHODS: Twenty five healthy edentulous subjects were selected for participating in the study. New complete dentures were constructed for all the participants. Subsequently two dental implants were inserted in the canine regions of the participant's mandibular arch. In order to retain the mandibular prosthesis in place, ball attachments were incorporated into the mandibular dentures to convert them into implant overdentures. Using 10 ml of thin liquid bolus, videofluoroscopy swallowing examination was performed in three different oral conditions: without complete dentures (WCD), with complete denture (CDs), and with a mandibular implant overdenture (IODs). ANOVA with Bonferroni test was used to analyze the data in order to determine how the hyoid displacement varied throughout different oral conditions. RESULTS: Compared to complete dentures, mandibular implant overdentures showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in both anterior hyoid displacement and duration of hyoid maximum anterior excursion (DOHMAE). However, there was a non-significant difference (P > 0.05) between the two oral circumstances in terms of superior hyoid displacement or duration for hyoid maximum elevation (DOHME). There is no penetration or aspiration for both complete denture and implant overdenture oral conditions. CONCLUSION: Implant retained overdentures have a positive effect on hyoid displacement during swallowing of thin liquid bolus consistency relative to conventional complete dentures. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered (NCT06187181) 02/1/2024.

Edentulism and quality of life in the Salvadoran population: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Edentulism is the partial or total loss of teeth, it is irreversible and disabling due to its sequelae in the masticatory, phonetic and aesthetic function that affect the quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To establish the impact of edentulism and sociodemographic factors on the quality of life of the Salvadoran population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Secondary cross-sectional analysis of data in 3322 users of the Public Health System of El Salvador, aged 15 to > 60 years. The variables under study were sociodemographic, edentulismo and quality of life. Edentulism was determined by clinical examination using the Oral Impact on Daily Performance scale. The statistical analysis was performed using χ2, OR, multiple regression analysis and set the significance threshold at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Partial edentulism in the upper jaw was present in 68.24% people, partial edentulism in the lower jaw was present in 72.42% people and complete edentulism was observed in 2.02% people. There were significant sex differences and a relationship between sex and quality of life (p < 0.004); the self-perception of severe/very severe impacts was greater in women. People without education or with primary or secondary education only were the most affected (p < 0.05). Tooth loss increases with age, affecting quality of life in a severe/very severe manner. Complete edentulism had greater impacts on quality of life in terms of eating (25.64%), speaking (21.15%), and socializing/enjoying contact with people (10.90%). A severe/very severe impact on quality of life of teeth lost was reported mainly by those over 60 years of age, with an average of 11 missing posterior teeth, 6 missing anterior teeth and 13 missing teeth per patient. Those missing up to 6 anterior teeth were times more likely to perceive severe/very severe impacts on quality of life than those without any missing teeth (OR:5.788). Edentulism affected the quality of life of those examined, especially the loss of upper anterior teeth.

Immediate rehabilitation of a palatal defected edentulous patient by implant-supported overdenture: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Immediate rehabilitation is a considerable therapeutic challenge but is necessary for edentulous patients with oronasal fistulas, especially those with inadequate residual bone and a history of radiotherapy. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a rare case of a 63-year-old patient who was missing the majority of his maxillary teeth and who had a defect due to palatal mucoepidermoid carcinoma resection. The patient also received radiotherapy twice within one year postoperatively. An implant-supported prosthesis with an obturator was fabricated immediately. CONCLUSION: This technique improved patients' oral function, enhanced the aesthetic effect, and increased their confidence.

Comparison of perceived masticatory ability in completely edentulous patients treated with thermoplastic complete denture versus single implant-retained mandibular overdenture: a single-center prospective observational study.

Background: This study aimed to compare the perceived masticatory ability (PrMA) in completely edentulous patients (EDPs) with thermoplastic conventional complete dentures (CDs) versus single implant-retained mandibular overdentures. Methods: The current study was conducted in the outpatient Prosthodontic Clinic, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. PrMA was evaluated in 45 completely edentulous patients (46% males, mean age 50.4 ± 4.7 years). Each patient received a thermoplastic PMMA complete denture (Polyan IC TM Bredent GmbH & Co.KG, Germany). The PrMA was evaluated at one-month and six-month intervals of denture use. An immediate loading single implant was placed into the mid-symphyseal for each patient, and the denture was adjusted. Subsequently, the PrMA was reevaluated after one month and six months. The data were collected and statistically analyzed using the SPSS@V25 to assess the changes in PrMA. Results: The PrMA demonstrated improvement after six months of thermoplastic conventional denture use. However, this improvement was not statistically significant (p = 0.405). In addition, the PrMA showed a substantial increase following a single implant placement at one and six months (p < 0.001) of the overdenture use compared to the conventional denture. The PrMA insignificantly improved (p = 0.397) after six months of the single implant retained overdenture use. Discussion: The study's findings indicate that using immediate loading single implant-retained mandibular overdentures significantly improved PrMA in completely edentulous patients.

The Longitudinal Relationship between Edentulism and the Progress of Multimorbidity.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the longitudinal relationship between edentulism, nutritional intake, and the progress of multimorbidity among older Americans. METHODS: We used data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2018), a longitudinal survey of older Americans that has collected data biennially since 1992. Edentulism was assessed in 2006 while nutritional intake was assessed in 2013. Multimorbidity was indicated by five self-reported chronic conditions: diabetes, heart conditions, lung diseases, cancer, and stroke. Individuals with two or more conditions at baseline were excluded from the analysis. Nutritional intake was calculated by summing 10 nutrients (protein, vitamins C, D, B12 and E, calcium, zinc, polyunsaturated fatty acids, folate, and ß-carotene). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine the nutritional pathway between edentulism (2006) and the increase in multimorbidity from 2006 to 2018. RESULTS: The number of individuals included in the analysis was 3463. The incidence of multimorbidity between 2006 and 2018 was 24.07%, while the percentage of edentate participants in 2006 was 16.42%. The mean total nutrition in 2013 was 4.50 (4.43, 4.55). The SEM analysis showed that edentulism was negatively associated with nutritional intake {estimate -0.15 (95%CI: -0.30, -0.01)}. A negative association was found between total nutrition and multimorbidity {estimate -0.008 (95%CI: -0.01, -0.002)}. Age, wealth, and smoking were included in the analysis and had statistically significant associations with multimorbidity. CONCLUSION: The analysis demonstrated a longitudinal association between edentulism, nutritional intake, and the progress of multimorbidity.

Exploring lived experiences on the usage of removable complete dentures among edentulous patients attending Makerere University Dental Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Edentulism remains a major disability worldwide, especially among the elderly population, although the prevalence of complete edentulism has declined over the last decades. In Uganda, the prevalence of edentulism in people aged 20 years and above is 1.8%. The therapy for edentulous patients can be realized through the use of conventional removable complete dentures, implant-supported prostheses, and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CADCAM), however, the provision of removable complete dentures continues to be the predominant rehabilitation for edentulous patients. However, no published study has explored the lived experiences with removable complete dentures among the Ugandan population. The aim of the present study was to explore patients' lived experiences on the usage of removable complete dentures among Ugandan edentulous patients attending Makerere University Dental Hospital. METHODS: This was a qualitative study approach using purposive sampling. Fifteen (15) respondents were selected across social demographics. Interviews were recorded and transcribed and themes were generated to draw a deeper meaning to the usage of removable complete dentures. A qualitative statistical package, Atlas Ti software was used to generate themes from the interviews followed by an interpretation of the generated data and the results were presented as text and in a table. RESULTS: The reported key positive experiences due to removable complete denture rehabilitation were the improvement in speech, eating ability, regaining good facial appearance, better oral hygiene management, self-esteem and confidence to smile in public, and a feeling of completeness. However, respondents complained of pain and discomfort due to the looseness of dentures, inability to eat certain foods, and regular cleaning of dentures. The respondents did not go through proper informed consent processes before getting removable complete dentures. CONCLUSION: The study found that patients were satisfied with their removable complete dentures rehabilitation due to the positive experiences registered, such as the ability to eat and talk well, and restoration of self-esteem, all of which improved their quality of life. However, they experience pain and discomfort due to the looseness of dentures.

A New Full Digital Workflow for Fixed Prosthetic Rehabilitation of Full-Arch Edentulism Using the All-on-4 Concept.

(1) Background: Recent digital workflows are being developed for full-arch rehabilitations supported by implants with immediate function. The purpose of this case series is to describe a new digital workflow for the All-on-4 concept. (2) Methods: The patients were rehabilitated using the All-on-4 concept with a digital workflow including computerized tomography scanning, intra-oral scanning, and CAD-CAM production of the temporary prosthesis, with the 3D printing of stackable guides (base guide, implant guide, and prosthetic guide). The passive fit of the prostheses and the time to perform the rehabilitations were evaluated. (3) Results: The digital workflow allowed for predictable bone reduction, the insertion of implants with immediate function, and the connection of an implant-supported prosthesis with immediate loading. The time registered to perform the full-arch rehabilitations (implant insertion, abutment connection, prosthesis connection) was below 2 hours and 30 min. No passive fit issues were noted. (4) Conclusions: within the limitation of this case series, the digital workflow applied to the All-on-4 concept using stackable base-, implant-, and prosthetic guides constitutes a potential alternative with decreased time for the procedure without prejudice of the outcome.

Impact of Patient Education Formats on Treatment Adherence and Denture Hygiene in Edentulous Patients: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND Effective communication and patient education are important in geriatric dental care. Memory decline complicates patient adherence. This study aimed to compare verbal, audio, and video patient education material (PEM) and adherence to dental prosthetic management in edentulous patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS 90 completely/partially edentulous patients (aged 40 to 70 years), were divided (simple random) into three groups (Gp) of 30 each . A total of 68 instructions were organized into 9 learning categories. For GpVi, a 20 minute video was shot using a Sony camera (PD170), with two actors depicting related PEM information. Patients were recalled after 1 day and 7days, to recall the PEM instructions. A Denture plaque Index (DPI) determined the efficiency of the instructions at both time intervals. Frequencies, means and standard deviations were derived for each group and then compared using Chi square, paired and unpaired t test and a Neuman-Keul post hoc pairwise test. All significant differences were kept at probability t value of ≤0.05. RESULTS PEM instructions related to patient individuality, proper tongue position and miscellaneous showed poor patient recall. At 1 day interval, audio was found to have better recall than video and verbal in 5 PEM instruction categories. At 7 day interval, video showed better recall than other two groups (P≤0.05). Despite improvements in patients recall, DPI revealed better denture hygiene maintenance in patients receiving instructions through video format (P≤0.05). CONCLUSIONS For all categories, no single media was considered to be sufficient, audio produced early better recall while video influenced long term recall and better denture hygiene maintenance.

Current knowledge about stackable guides: a scoping review.

PURPOSE: The rise of stereolithographic surgical guides and digital workflow, combined with a better knowledge of materials and loading principle, has enabled the placement of the temporary prosthesis at the time of implant placement. This scoping review aimed to assess the current knowledge available on stackable guides. METHODS: The review focused on fully edentulous or requiring total edentulism patients. The procedure studied was the use of stackable guides for edentulous patients in order to place immediate temporary prostheses. The clinical endpoint was immediate placement of the provisional prosthesis after surgery combined with a prior bone reduction using a stackable guide. RESULTS: 12 case reports or case series articles met inclusion criteria, which did not allow an analysis by a systematic review. The included studies were case reports or case series. Most of the articles showed a base stabilized by 3 or 4 bone-pins, anchored in buccal or lingual part. Regarding the accuracy of bone reduction (ranged from 0.0248 mm to 1.98 mm) and implant placement when compared to planned, only 4 articles reported quantitative data. 11 articles showed an immediate loading with the transitional prosthesis after implant placement. CONCLUSIONS: There are as yet no prospective or comparative studies on the efficiency of this technique. In a reliable way, stackable guides seem to be able to guide the practitioner from the flap elevation to the placement of the temporary screw-retained implant supported prosthesis. Given the lack of studies in this specific field of guided surgery, further studies are needed to confirm the clinical relevance of this technique.

Ultrasound analysis of the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles in edentulous patients rehabilitated with full-arch fixed implant-supported prostheses.

OBJECTIVES: Total tooth loss is common in the aging population resulting in insufficient chewing function with subsequent weakening of the masticatory muscles. The study aims to evaluate the changes in thicknesses of the masseter and anterior temporal muscle in edentulous patients following the reconstruction of implant-supported fixed prostheses and compare them with the dentate individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as a prospective, single-center, controlled clinical trial. A total of 60 participants were included in the present study. The patients were divided into two groups; Group I (Test Group): 30 edentulous patients who received implant-supported fixed prostheses, Group II (Control Group): 30 dentate individuals of an age and sex-matched group. Ultrasonography was used to measure the cross-sectional thickness of the left and right musculus masseter and anterior temporalis immediately after the cementation of the prosthetic rehabilitation (T1), on the 1st (T2) and 6th (T3) months after rehabilitation and at a single time point in the control group. RESULTS: The results showed that there were significant comparison differences in muscle thickness at the baseline measurements between groups while at the end of the 6th month, these differences were not significant. The muscle thicknesses of both the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles increased significantly at T2 and T3 compared to T1 in the test group. The asymmetry index between the left and right muscles in the test group and the asymmetry differences between groups also decreased significantly at the end of the 6th month. CONCLUSION: The implant-supported fixed prostheses significantly increase the thicknesses of the masseter and anterior temporal muscle together with a decrease in the asymmetry between the left and right muscles. At six months, implant-treated patients showed similar muscle thicknesses compared to dentate individuals. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The findings suggest that implant-supported fixed prostheses can improve the masticatory function and facial symmetry of edentulous patients.

Development of the Food Acceptance Questionnaire for Thai Partial and Complete Edentulism.

This study aimed to develop the Food Acceptance Questionnaire (FAQ) to assess the masticatory ability of Thai older adults (≥60 years). Fifty participants were interviewed using open-ended questions about food they regularly consumed and avoided due to difficulty chewing. From a list of 140 items, 100 were recruited for a trial version of the FAQ. A total of 154 participants responded to the 5-point Likert scale on their chewing perception of each food item (1, impossible to chew; 5, most easily eaten). The average response of each food item was used as the chewing index (CI). The 100 food items were ranked and divided into five grades based on their CIs. Masticatory performance (MP) was objectively assessed by a visual scoring method using gummy jelly (UHA Mikakuto). Two foods from each grade that demonstrated the highest correlation with MP were selected to form the final 10-item FAQ. The FAQ score was calculated by summarizing the responses of 10 items. MP correlated strongly with the FAQ score (r = 0.57, p < 0.001), indicating its predictive validity. Furthermore, the FAQ indicates strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.90), indicating high reliability. In conclusion, this newly developed 10-item FAQ is valid and reliable for assessing the masticatory ability of Thai older adults.

Implant-Supported, Bar-Retained Maxillary Overdenture and Mandibular Implant-Supported, Metal-Acrylic Resin, Screw-Retained, Fixed Complete Denture on an Edentulous Patient: Case Report.

Most edentulous patients prefer fixed restoration or detachable prostheses over conventional complete dentures. The case report aims to address and discuss the clinical and laboratory steps of implant-supported, bar-retained maxillary overdenture and mandibular implant-supported, metal-acrylic resin, screw-retained, fixed complete denture. Impression techniques and laboratory steps are discussed and demonstrated to minimize the postfabrication or insertion complication. It lets you achieve the passive fit of the prosthesis that maintains the osseointegration by reducing stress on implants and the surrounding bone.

Evaluation of open-face maxillary complete denture for patients with prominent premaxilla: a crossover study.

BACKGROUND: The establishment of good facial esthetics is one of the main objectives of complete denture construction. Unfortunately, it may be the caused issue for patients having a prominent premaxilla due to excessive lip support by the labial flange of the maxillary denture. Open-face dentures (OFD) may suggest suitable prosthetic management for these patients. However, clinical evidence regarding the efficiency of OFD is scarce. METHODS: A total of 38 completely edentulous participants having prominent premaxilla and skeletal class I Angle's classification were enrolled in this study. Each participant received a mandibular complete denture and 2 opposing maxillary dentures; conventional (CD) and open-face (OFD). On the day of denture insertion, the participants were divided into 2 groups; CD-OFD and OFD-CD where CD-OFD group was instructed to use the mandibular denture and the maxillary CD for 3 months and then to use the maxillary OFD for another 3 months after a wash-out period of 2 weeks. While group OFD-CD was instructed to use the mandibular denture and the maxillary OFD for 3 months then to use the maxillary CD for another 3 months after a wash-out period of 2 weeks. The dislodging force of the maxillary dentures was evaluated using the universal testing machine and the patient perception of retention, esthetics, and comfort was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Evaluation was carried out 1 day, 1 month, and 3 months after denture insertion. The Student t-test was used to compare the 2 maxillary dentures and the intervals for each denture were compared by using the ANOVA test with repeated measures followed by a Post Hoc test (adjusted Bonferroni) for pairwise comparison. RESULTS: The significance of the obtained results was judged at the 5% level (P value). The dislodging force and patient perception of retention did not show significant differences between the 2 dentures, while the perception of esthetics showed significant differences throughout the follow-up period. Perception of comfort showed an insignificant difference only at the 3-month interval. CONCLUSIONS: Open-face maxillary dentures can be a suitable alternative for patients with prominent premaxilla to achieve satisfactory retention, aesthetics, and comfort.

Distribution of Edentulism by the Macro Determinants of Health in 204 Countries and Territories: An Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study.

OBJECTIVE: To carry out a comprehensive description of edentulism estimates by the macro determinants of health in 2000, 2010 and 2019 worldwide. METHODS: This ecological study analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) to describe the incidence rate, prevalence rate and years lived with disability (YLDs) rate due to edentulism by macro determinants of health (governance, macroeconomic policy, social policy, public policies, societal values), for 204 countries and territories. The estimates were reported as rates (cases/100,000 people), for people of both sexes aged 55 years or older. RESULTS: Countries belonging to the least privileged categories of the macro determinants showed the lowest prevalence rate, incidence rate, and YLD rate due to edentulism for all exposures. Countries with low government expenditure on health showed the lowest prevalence rate of edentulism in 2000 (18,972.1; 95 %CI 15,960.0 - 21,984.3) and 2010 (16,646.8; 95 %CI: 14,218.3-19,075.4) than those with high government expenditure on health in 2000 (25,196.6; 95 %CI: 23,226.9 - 27,166.2) and 2010 (21,014.7; 95 %CI: 19,317.9 - 22,711.5). Countries with low SDI showed the lowest YLDs in 2000 (321.0, 95 %CI: 260.1- 381.9), 2010 (332.0; 95 %CI: 267.7-396.3), and 2019 (331.6; 95 %CI: 266.6-396.5). CONCLUSION: The findings point to persistent inequalities in the distribution of edentulism between countries worldwide. The most privileged countries, with higher economic development, better governance, and better social and public policies, have shown higher rates of edentulism. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This model must be reconsidered by advancing toward upstream and midstream strategies, beyond its conventional downstream clinical interventions.

Effect of different fabrication workflows on the passive fit of screw-retained bar splinting two interforaminal implants: a parallel blinded randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: To clinically compare the effect of the conventional and the digital workflows on the passive fit of a screw retained bar splinting two inter-foraminal implants. METHODS: The current study was designed to be a parallel triple blinded randomised clinical trial. Thirty six completely edentulous patients were selected and simply randomized into two groups; conventional group (CG) and digital group (DG). The participants, investigator and outcome assessor were blinded. In the group (CG), the bar was constructed following a conventional workflow in which an open top splinted impression and a lost wax casting technology were used. However, in group (DG), a digital workflow including a digital impression and a digital bar milling technology was adopted. Passive fit of each bar was then evaluated clinically by applying the screw resistance test using the "flag" technique in the passive and non passive situations. The screw resistance test parameter was also calculated. Unpaired t-test was used for intergroup comparison. P-value < 0.05 was the statistical significance level. The study protocol was reviewed by the Research Ethics Committee in the author's university (Rec IM051811). Registration of the clinical trial was made on clinical trials.gov ID NCT05770011. An informed consent was obtained from all participants. RESULTS: Non statistically significant difference was denoted between both groups in all situations. In the passive situation, the mean ± standard deviation values were 1789.8° ± 20.7 and1786.1° ± 30.7 for the groups (CG) and (DG) respectively. In the non passive situation, they were 1572.8° ± 54.2 and 1609.2° ± 96.9. Regarding the screw resistance test parameter, they were 217° ± 55.3 and 176° ± 98.8. CONCLUSION: Conventional and digital fabrication workflows had clinically comparable effect on the passive fit of screw retained bar attachments supported by two dental implants.

Short-term data suggests cognitive benefits in the elderly with single-implant overdentures.

DESIGN: This study was an extension of a randomized crossover clinical trial approved by the institutional ethics committee (approval number: D2014-148) and adhered to the CONSORT guidelines. The original study juxtaposed patient contentment with single-implant overdentures (1-IODs) against conventional complete dentures (CCDs), with patient satisfaction being the primary focus. In this follow-up study, the cognitive function of edentulous patients receiving 1-IODs was assessed, specifically monitoring for the emergence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) throughout a three-year period. Patient outcomes were systematically recorded at predetermined intervals: initially, two months post-1-IOD placement, after one year (with groups alternated between denture types at eight-month marks), then after two and three years. A prosthodontist with a decade of expertise performed all denture-related procedures. This follow-up emphasized the cognitive outcomes using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-J), considering it alongside previously documented results on masticatory function, bone resorption, survival rates, and patient-reported outcomes. CASE SELECTION: Between 2015 and 2016, a follow-up study enrolled edentulous patients over 50 years of age who were proficient in Japanese, had sufficient mandibular bone for implants, and were free of systemic health issues and habits that could impact oral health. The participants were randomly divided into two groups after receiving a central mandibular implant. Group 1 initially used 1-IODs, and Group 2 used unloaded CCDs. After two months and subsequent periods, they swapped denture types. Eventually, all patients chose 1-IODs for continued use. Implant success was monitored over three years. The design featured block randomization and accounted for a sample size of 22, determined to be sufficient for evaluating the primary outcome of patient satisfaction. All patients underwent careful allocation and received customized dental interventions, with detailed radiographic planning and surgical precision guiding the implantation process. DATA ANALYSIS: Multivariable linear mixed models were used to assess within-group changes in both overall and specific cognitive function scores across five timepoints. Age, assessment interval, and upper jaw denture status were incorporated as consistent variables, while individual participants were considered variable elements in the analysis. SPSS software version 22.0 was utilized to conduct the statistical tests, and a p value threshold of 0.05 was predetermined to establish statistical significance. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients with edentulous mandibles received 1-IODs. Memory and executive functions saw significant score increases at multiple timepoints over the three-year period, with statistical significance. Though one participant dropped out and another passed away, and two did not complete the 3-year follow-up, the remaining 18 participants provided comprehensive data. Age and type of maxillary denture were significant factors, influencing MoCA-J scores with older participants and those with fixed dentures showing lower scores in certain domains. Overall, the findings illustrated the positive correlation between 1-IODs and cognitive function in older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with no natural teeth left in their mandible showed improved cognitive function after one and three years of using 1-IODs, as reflected by their total and specific cognitive domain scores. The study suggests that such implant therapy may offer protective benefits against cognitive decline, demonstrating clinical relevance for patient care, regardless of the maxillary arch (antagonist) condition.

Impact of digital technologies on implant surgery in fully edentulous patients: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: For over three decades, digital technologies have been used in Implant Dentistry, beginning with the introduction of planning software for Static Computer-Assisted Implant Surgery (S-CAIS). During this time, this field has witnessed the emergence of diverse methodologies and a proliferation of technological advancements. Today, S-CAIS is a widely adopted procedure for the placement of dental implants in both partially and fully edentulous patients, with Dynamic Computer-Assisted Surgery (D-CAIS) and Robotic-Assisted Implant Surgery (RAIS) rapidly gaining attention among dental professionals. The continuous advancements in this arena are not merely indicative of technological progress; they represent a steadfast dedication to refining precision, enhancing efficiency, and fostering innovation with the goal of optimizing patient outcomes in dental implantology. AIMS: The purpose of the following review is to meticulously examine the spectrum of digital technologies available and to describe their protocols, advantages, and shortcomings as well as to evaluate their accuracy in implant surgery in patients with complete edentulism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A scoping review was performed following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) protocols, leveraging the population, concept, and context (PCC) framework to construct the research question and determine the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty-seven records were identified for screening. After applying all the screening criteria, 41 articles were included for review and qualitative data analysis. DISCUSSION: S-CAIS, D-CAIS, and RAIS were identified as the main technologies for computer assisted implant surgery. Their applications, characteristics, protocols and levels of accuracy were compared and described. CONCLUSION: Taking into consideration the limitations of this study, S-CAIS appears to be the most applied and validated technology in implant surgery for fully edentulous patients followed by D-CAIS and RAIS being these last two promising initiatives in the field. Despite having similar levels of accuracy, the overall comparison showed a slightly higher values in RAIS followed by D-CAIS and S-CAIS.

Evaluation of Masticatory Function, Satisfaction, and Quality of Life Among Users of Complete Dentures Relined with Resilient Materials: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether complete dentures (CDs) relined with long-term resilient liners (LTRLs) favor better masticatory function, satisfaction, and quality of life among completely edentulous patients compared to conventional CDs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist and was registered in PROSPERO (the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews; CRD42021258700). The population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) purpose was to determine whether CDs relined with LTRLs favor better masticatory function, satisfaction, and quality of life among completely edentulous patients when compared to CDs. Searches were performed in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Lilacs, BBO, and OpenGrey databases. Manual searches were also performed to identify additional primary studies. RESULTS: Overall, 3,953 articles were found. After removing duplicates, reading the articles, and applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 15 articles were selected for qualitative analysis, totaling 422 patients with follow-up periods ranging from 1 week to 3 years. Among these, 8 studies assessed masticatory function using different methods, 2 assessed satisfaction, 1 assessed quality of life, and 4 assessed more than one outcome. Through qualitative analysis, LTRLs showed satisfactory results in most studies when compared to CDs in relation to masticatory function, satisfaction, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: LTRLs favor better masticatory function, satisfaction, and quality of life among completely edentulous patients compared to CDs.

Position of Fovea Palatinae relative to the vibrating line in various soft palate classifications among Jordanian edentulous population.

This study aims to examine the relationship between the locations of Fovea Palatinae and the posterior vibrating line in different classes of soft palate angulation (House Classification), accordingly determine its reliability as a landmark and a tool for determining the posterior limit of the maxillary complete denture. 280 completely edentulous patients with normal healthy mucosa from both genders were randomly selected. The House classification of the soft palate angulation was identified and recorded as Class I, II, or III. Phonation was used to determine the position of the vibrating line. The Fovea Palatinae was then marked. Then, the distance between the Fovea Palatinae and the vibrating line was measured and recorded. Finally, the relative position of the Fovea Palatinae to the vibrating line was recorded as being anterior, posterior, or on the vibrating line. The Chi Square test, the effect size measures (Eta and Cramer's V tests), The Spearman's Rho rank correlation test, and multinominal logistic regression analysis were utilized to analyse the data. House classification percentages were measured among people whose Fovea Palatinae was detectable; Class II palate was the most prevalent (47.14%), followed by Class I (43.93%), and then Class III (8.93%). Based on vibrating line position, 129 (58%) had a vibrating line anterior to Fovea Palatinae, 57 (26%) on the Fovea Palatinae, 36 (16%) posterior to Fovea Palatinae, and in 58 (21%) Fovea Palatinae were not detected. The mean distance between the vibrating line and Fovea Palatinae was 3.66 ± 1.6 mm anteriorly and 2.97 ± 1.36 mm posteriorly. No significant differences were found between males and females in regard to House classification and vibrating line position. The odds of having the fovea posterior to the vibrating line would increase by 5% for each year increase in the age (P = 0.035, odds ratio = 1.050). Class II House classification of the soft palate was found to be the most prevalent among the study participants. Also, the vibrating line was anterior to the Fovea Palatinae in the majority of cases. The odds of having the fovea posterior to the vibrating line would increase by age. The Fovea Palatinae could be considered a useful guide for locating the vibrating line.