A 22-year follow-up of an endodontic implant.

Root fractures in the middle and apical thirds of the root are treated by repositioning and for approximately 6 weeks of immobilization while those in the cervical third are immobilized for 3 months. Even though the results are good, some root-fractured teeth are lost and replaced by dental implants or fixed partial dentures. One historic but effective treatment option for those root fractures with unfavorable crown to root ratios is an endodontic implant in middle and apical third root fractures. This method offers immediate stable fixation of a crown and its coronal root segment to the underlying alveolar bone. This report documents the long-term survival of a tooth treated with an endodontic implant. A 25-year-old male patient presented following a bicycle accident with a dislocated unfavorable root fracture in the middle third. The crown with the coronal root segment was secured to the bone using a commercially available endodontic implant. The apical part of the root was removed. Although the clinical and radiological follow-up results of the endodontic implant demonstrated a good clinical function and little bone loss, the implant ultimately had to be removed after 22 years of service due to pain and increasing mobility.

Dental traumas during the military service.

BACKGROUND: Dental traumas are most frequent during the first three decades of life and more frequent among males than females. Approximately 80% (n = 28 000) of the male age cohort performs military service annually in Finland. As little is known of dental, head, and neck traumas during the military service, our aim was to study the etiology, number and occurrence of traumas of the Finnish conscripts during one calendar year. Our hypothesis was that above-mentioned traumas comprise a remarkable proportion of military accidents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data comprised of all the Finnish conscripts' trauma cases in the year 2009 (mean age 20.1 years, SD 1.1). The frequency, mechanism, and time of the incidences were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the total 1432 trauma cases, 303 (23%) involved head, neck, or dentition. The occurrence rate of dental traumas was 6.5 cases/1000 persons/year. Dental traumas comprised 14.3% of all traumas. The most common mechanism for dental traumas was a blow-type force. First 4 months of the service and winter time were periods of increased risk of dental traumas. Two-thirds of the dental traumas, one-third of the body traumas and a quarter of the head and neck traumas occurred during military field exercises. Most dental traumas required a visit to a military dental clinic and also needed follow-up care. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Head, neck, and dental injuries are common during the military service in Finland. Prevention of dental traumas and need for first aid dental skills of the personnel should be emphasized.

Tent-pole approach to treat severely atrophic fractured mandibles using immediate or delayed protocols: preliminary case series.

PURPOSE: To investigate the outcomes of patients with severely resorbed fractured mandibles who were managed with a modified tent-pole procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four edentulous patients (2 male and 2 female; mean age, 59.5 years; range, 52 to 64 years) with a severely atrophic fractured mandible and less than 10 mm of vertical height of the body of the mandible were treated with an immediate or a delayed protocol (n=2 in each group). In the immediate group, a transcutaneous submental approach was used to provide open reduction with rigid fixation, immediate dental implant placement in the anterior mandible, and an autogenous particulate iliac bone grafting harvested from the posterior iliac crest. In the delayed protocol group, the fractures were treated with an open reduction and rigid fixation. Six months after fracture treatment, the fixation hardware was removed and a tent-pole approach was used to place the dental implants to the anterior mandible with an autogenous bone graft harvested from the posterior iliac crest. Implant fixtures were loaded at 3 months as the patients were fitted with healing caps, and the dental implants were loaded using provisional screw-retained acrylic resin prostheses and bar-retained overdentures afterward. The mean follow-up was 19.8 months (range, 13 to 28 months). RESULTS: The postoperative course and healing of the 4 patients was uneventful, without any fracture nonunion. The average alveolar augmentation±standard deviation was 7.5±1.17 mm (range, 6.6 to 9.0 mm). There was no bone resorption around any of the endosseous implants on follow-up. All 4 patients wore their dental implant-supported prosthesis comfortably. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary evidence indicates that the modified tent-pole technique may be a safe and effective method to manage the fractured severely resorbed mandible using an immediate or a delayed protocol. Much larger-scale prospective evidence is required to further validate this observation.

Outcome of treatment of implant-retained overdenture in patients with extreme mandibular bone resorption treated with bone grafts using a modified tent pole technique.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome (prosthetic maintenance, survival of implants, patient satisfaction, and quality of life) of prosthetic treatment using an implant-retained overdenture and a modified tent pole procedure for severe mandibular resorption. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventeen edentulous patients (mean age, 68 yr; range, 54 to 77 yr) with severely resorbed mandibles were treated with autogenous bone grafts using a modified tent pole technique and implant overdentures. A bar was used to splint the implants and the final prostheses with implant connection were completed approximately 7 months after surgery. The mean follow-up time was 5 years (1.5 to 7.4 yr). Patients filled out the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 questionnaire concerning their oral health-related quality of life, and then panoramic radiographs were taken during clinical examination. RESULTS: The stability of the overdenture was good in 58.8% of cases and retention was good in 64.7%. The most usual prosthetic complication was loosening of the attachment component, which occurred in 7 cases (41.2%). The amount of plaque and bleeding was more remarkable on the lingual surface of the implants and less remarkable on the buccal surface. Pocket depth around the implants seemed to correspond to intraoral implantation. The radiographs depicted excellent grafted bone survival. The patients' oral health-related quality of life was found to be good after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Implant placement with bone grafting using a modified tent pole technique enables the achievement of a good prosthetic solution and the rehabilitation of occlusion, thereby improving the functionality of the prostheses and quality of life.

Radiological signs indicating infection of dental origin in elderly Finns.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess the prevalence and background factors of signs of infection of dental origin in elderly Finns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Every third birth cohort between 60-78 years of age (n = 1733) in a southern and a northern region in Finland were invited. Altogether, 1069 subjects attended radiographic examination. Of those, 660 were dentate and formed the study sample. In the analysis an index as a sum of points (scale per lesion 0-3, range 0-420) indicating the severity of infection from periapical lesions, furcal lesions, vertical bone pockets, horizontal bone loss and severe dental caries was used. RESULTS: The index ranged individually from 0-91. Horizontal bone loss was found in 94%, vertical bone loss in 19%, periapical lesions in 46%, furcal lesions in 19% and carious lesions in 39% of the subjects. Only 3% of the subjects were free of dental infections, while 2% had mild, 17% moderate and 78% severe risk of dentogenic infection. Statistically significant background factors were region, level of education, number of regular drugs in use, drugs reducing salivation, alcohol consumption, cardiovascular disease, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly Finns have high a prevalence of signs of infections of dental origin, which is associated with several socio-demographic and health-related factors.

Long-term follow-up of severely resorbed mandibles reconstructed using tent pole technique without platelet-rich plasma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the results of edentulous patients with severely resorbed mandibles who were treated with a modified tent pole procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two edentulous patients (3 men, 19 women; mean age, 62 yr; range, 51 to 72 yr) with a history of conservative prosthodontic treatment failures were included this study. Using a transcutaneous submental approach, 4 endosseous dental implants were placed in the anterior mandible of each patient and covered with autogenous bone grafts harvested from the posterior iliac crest without the addition of platelet-rich plasma. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 9 years. RESULTS: The postoperative course of the patients was uneventful, without any surgical infections. At 3 months postoperatively, the density of the grafted bone appeared to closely resemble that of the surrounding alveolar bone on panoramic radiographs. The average alveolar augmentation was 6.3 mm (standard deviation, 1.59 mm; range, 4 to 10 mm) and long-term follow-up showed no bone resorption around the endosseous implants. CONCLUSIONS: The modified tent pole technique without the addition of platelet-rich plasma is a safe and effective method to reconstruct the severely resorbed mandible.

The comparison of outcomes of surgically treated bilateral temporomandibular joint disorder in different groups: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of this study was to determine the prognosis and outcomes of the patients with bilateral temporomandibular disorder which underwent bilateral temporomandibular joint surgery in a consecutive number of patients in a retrospective study. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty five patients with 130 bilateral TMJ were included the study with the selection from consecutive 256 TMJ patients who were treated with open surgery who do not respond to conservative treatment. 65 patients were divided in to 3 main groups according to the clinical diagnosis of bilateral TMJ site. In the first group comprised 29 patients with 48 TMJ, the clinical diagnosis was bilaterally presence of anterior disc displacement with reduction (ADDR). In the second group comprised 19 patients with 26 TMJ, bilateral presence of TMD consisted of anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDNR) on both site. In the third group comprised 27 patients with 46 TMJ, bilaterally presence of TMD consist of ADDR on one site and ADDNR on another site. The patients in three different groups were operated either high condylectomy alone or high condylectomy with additional surgical procedures. RESULTS: In the evaluation of pain relief, clicking, crepitation, headache, marked improvement was determined in all groups, but it was statistically insignificant in the comparison of 3 groups. Slight increase in maximal mouth opening was determined in the mean values of the 3 groups and also in the comparison of 3 groups it was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: These similar succesfull outcomes of bilateral TMD with the respect of TMJ surgical procedures were obtained in 3 main groups although different diagnosis on the patients' groups was present.

[Management of facial bone fractures]. / Epäilen kasvoluun murtumaa--mitä teen?

Although the number of patients suffering from facial bone fractures has decreased more resources due to complexity of the fractures are needed. The initial treatment and reconstruction phase require hospitalisation and close collaboration between several medical and dental specialists. Fractures cause alterations in occlusion and masticatory functions and are frequently associated with soft tissue injuries. The primary radiographic examination is panoramic radiography in mandibular and computed tomography in maxillary and mid face fractures. The treatment principles have changed during the last three decades. Long-term maxillomandibular immobilisation has given way to internal fixation and direct osteosynthesis. The greatest innovations of the treatment have taken place in materials. Steel has been replaced by Titanium or resorbable plates, screws and meshes.

Infectious dental diseases in patients with coronary artery disease: an orthopantomographic case-control study.

PURPOSE: To investigate a potential association between coronary artery disease (CAD) and a variety of radiographically detectable infectious dental diseases, a hospital-based prospective case-control study was conducted in Kuwait. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight consecutive patients with a first attack of unstable angina pectoris or acute myocardial infarction were enrolled as cases and were matched on the basis of age, sex and nationality with control patients who were known not to have CAD. The severity and extent of periodontal bone loss and other radiographic signs of infection in both cases and controls were analyzed with orthopantomograms. RESULTS: More cases than controls had teeth needing extraction (p = 0.043), periapical lesions (p = 0.028), molars with furcation lesions (p < 0.001), teeth with marginal bone loss > or = 6 mm (p = 0.001) and teeth with angular (vertical) bone loss (p < 0.001). Analysis of the total dental index showed that the median scores were higher for cases than controls for both radiographically diagnosed periodontitis (p < 0.001) and periapical lesions (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, there was a significant association between radiographically diagnosed periodontal diseases and CAD. These results should not be regarded as indicating a causal relationship, especially given that the diagnosis of periodontitis was based only on a radiographic examination. The true impact of oral infections on CAD should be examined in a large prospective clinical and interventional study.

Peripheral morphine reduces acute pain in inflamed tissue after third molar extraction: A double-blind, randomized, active-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The clinical use of peripheral analgesic effects of opioids has been investigated in numerous controlled clinical trials. The majorities of these have tested the local, intra-articular administration of morphine in knee surgery and have demonstrated marginal postoperative analgesia. OBJECTIVE: We examined direct morphine infiltration of the surgical site in a clinical model of tooth pain under two different conditions. Eighty-eight patients undergoing surgical tooth removal entered into the two prospective, parallel, randomized, double-blind studies. METHODS: Patients undergoing surgical tooth removal received a standard local anaesthetic solution (articaine plus epinephrine) before surgery. Patients were assigned to an injection of peripheral 2mg morphine either into non-inflamed (Trial I) or inflamed (Trial II) submucous tissue before the surgery. Patients who received an intramuscular morphine in the upper arm were concomitantly given 1ml isotonic saline (NaCl) as a submucous injection. Patients who received a submucous injection of morphine peripherally were concomitantly given an intramuscular injection (IM) of 1ml of NaCl in the upper arm. Postoperative pain intensity was assessed by the numeric rating scale every 30min for the first 2h and then every hour for the next 8h after surgery. In addition, patients recorded the occurrence of side effects and the supplemental consumption of ibuprophen and codeine+paracetamol combination tablets. RESULTS: Of the eighty-eight original participants, nine patients (4 patients in Trial I and 5 patients in Trial II) were withdrawn for protocol noncompliance and loss at follow-up. Thirty-one patients in trial I and forty-eight patients in trial II were analyzed. Patients receiving 2mg morphine into non-inflamed tissue did not show any further reduction in pain scores and pain medication consumption compared to IM morphine group (Trial I). In patients receiving 2mg morphine into inflamed tissue, pain scores at rest were reduced to a similar extent in both groups at all measurement times up to 10h in the follow-up (Trial II). At the same time, in the area under the curves pain scores on swallowing between 2 and 6h in the peripheral morphine group (5.2±5.6) were significantly lower than in the IM morphine group (9.3±7.3, p=0.03), demonstrating the marginal analgesic efficacy of additional morphine. Sedation scores were significantly higher in the peripheral morphine group only 1h after surgery in Trial I (p=0.008). The time to first analgesic intake was similar between groups. No serious side effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed in patients undergoing surgical tooth removal that injection of 2mg of morphine into inflamed tissue results in significantly lower pain scores on swallowing in the early postoperative state while administration into non-inflamed tissue is not effective. IMPLICATIONS: Our studies indicate that the peripheral administration of opioids, at the doses and conditions set out for these two studies, produces significant analgesia by a pharmacologically specific mechanism that is active in chronically, but not acutely, inflamed tissue. Thus, consistent with preclinical experimental studies, the requirement of an inflammatory process for the occurrence of the peripheral opioid effects is also found in the clinical setting.

Safety of zygomatic bone harvesting: a prospective study of 32 consecutive patients with simultaneous zygomatic bone grafting and 1-stage implant placement.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the safety of zygomatic bone harvesting and to determine whether a particulated zygomatic bone graft can be used simultaneously with 1-stage dental implants to reconstruct resorbed edentulous alveolar ridges. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Altogether, 82 dental implants were placed in 32 patients. Particulated bone grafts harvested from the zygomatic process were used in 72 of the implant sites. The volume of bone harvested, intraoperative complications, morbidity, and complications on follow-up visits were recorded. Implant survival was examined prospectively. RESULTS: As a harvest site, the zygoma yielded enough bone to complete the reconstructions in each case. The average zygomatic bone graft volume was 0.90 mL (SD 0.30). Perforation of the maxillary sinus occurred at 11 zygomatic sites. None of these perforations led to postoperative problems. No paresthesias or other complications were noted during follow-up examinations. Mean duration of postoperative swelling was 4.5 days, and patients used pain medication for a mean duration of 4 days. After the mean follow-up period of 26.9 months postplacement, 80 of 82 implants were osseointegrated (survival rate 97.6%). DISCUSSION: [corrected] Zygomatic bone is an alternative donor site for bone harvesting with low morbidity. The bone graft yielded is sufficient for use in 2 to 3 implant sites. CONCLUSIONS: The zygoma was a safe intraoral bone harvesting donor site in this patient population. Further, the use of simultaneous particulated zygomatic bone grafts and 1-stage implant placement appears to be an effective procedure.

The influence of a mandibular advancement plate on polysomnography in different grades of obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a mandibular advancement device on different grades of obstructive sleep apnea using a relatively simple test for the apnea-hypopnea index to determine if a mandibular device will be effective. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 68 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) including, 31 with mild, 23 with moderate and 14 with severe OSAS were treated with a mandibular advancement device (MAD) and monitored with polysomnography. RESULTS: 25 of the 31 mild, 15 of the 23 moderate and 2 of the 14 severe OSAS patients were cured of their OSAS if a post treatment apnea-hypopnea index of less than 5 is regarded as cured. The odds ratios for success with MAD therapy are 3 for women over men, 14.9 for mild obstructive sleep apnea, 5.42 for moderate obstructive sleep apnea if severe obstructive sleep apnea is assigned an odds ratio of 1. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the apnea-hypopnea index alone is useful in mild and moderate disease to predict the effectiveness of mandibular advancement device. Treatment with a mandibular advancement device is very effective in treating mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Conservative treatment with a mandibular advancement device can be successful in less severe grades of sleep apnea and may be an alternative for non-surgical patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea intolerant of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure management.

Zygomatic bone: an additional donor site for alveolar bone reconstruction. Technical note.

This article describes a procedure to harvest bone from the zygoma for alveolar bone reconstruction. A detailed description of the bone harvesting procedure and a preliminary report of 3 patients undergoing alveolar bone reconstruction and simultaneous dental implant placement in the maxillary anterior area is presented. The technique is indicated when a modest amount of bone is needed, for example, to cover exposed implant threads and expand a narrow alveolar ridge. It also could be used as an additional source of bone with other intraoral donor sites. Surgical access to the zygoma is simple and can be performed using local anesthesia. Postoperative complications after zygomatic bone harvest are minimal.

Comparison of three radiographic methods used to locate the mandibular canal in the buccolingual direction before bilateral sagittal split osteotomy.

OBJECTIVE: Panoramic radiographs, computerized tomography (CT), and conventional spiral tomographic (Scanora, Soredex, Helsinki, Finland) radiographs were compared for their ability to locate the mandibular canal in the buccolingual direction. Furthermore, the relationship between the cortication of the mandibular canal in panoramic radiographs and the location of the canal in both computerized and conventional tomographic radiographs was assessed. STUDY DESIGN: The buccolingual location of the mandibular canal was determined bilaterally in twenty consecutive patients scheduled for bilateral sagittal split osteotomy. The position of the mandibular canal was evaluated by means of panoramic radiography, Scanora, and CT. The three imaging methods were compared for their ability to locate the mandibular canal in the buccolingual direction. The subjective neurosensory deficit of the lower lip and chin on both sides was registered preoperatively and at 4 days, 3 weeks, and 3 months after surgery, and the operative outcome was analyzed in relation to the distance from the mandibular canal to the buccal cortex of the mandible. RESULTS: CT gave better visualization of the mandibular canal than Scanora imaging. Cortication of the mandibular canal on the panoramic radiograph did not serve as a predictor of the proximity of the mandibular canal to the cortices of the mandible. At 3-month follow-up, there were only eight operated sides with abnormal sensation of the lower lip and chin. In seven of these sides, the distance from the mandibular canal to the buccal cortex was less than 2 mm. CONCLUSION: The buccolingual location of the mandibular canal is visualized better with CT than with Scanora or panoramic radiographs.

MR abnormalities of the lateral pterygoid muscle in patients with nonreducing disk displacement of the TMJ.

The aim of this study was to investigate the pathological changes of the lateral pterygoid muscle (LPM) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with anterior disk displacement with nonreduction (ADDnr) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and to compare the abnormal findings of the LPM with the clinical symptoms and other pathological MRI alterations of the TMJ. Bilateral or unilateral ADDnr was demonstrated in 142 patents by MRI (176 TMJs; 106 females; 36 males; range 19 to 72 years; mean 43.9 years). In 123 TMJs, the LPMs were clearly observed in MRIs and analyzed in this study. Pathological changes of the LPM were found in 92 TMJs (74.8%) in MRI. Hypertrophy, atrophy and/or contracture were detected in the superior belly of the LPM (SBLPM) (35.8%, 44/123) or in the inferior belly of the LPM (IBLPM) (9.8%, 12/123) or in both bellies (29.3%, 36/123). The pathological changes of the LPM in MRI presented a significant association with the main clinical symptoms of TMJs with ADDnr, i.e. pain on jaw movement (P<0.01), pain in the LPM (P<0.01), pain in TMJ (P<0.05) and restricted jaw opening (P<0.05). The proportion of the abnormalities in LPM was significantly lower in TMJs with condylar limitation (63.6%) than in TMJs with condylar hypermobility (83.3%) and normal motion (88.9%)(P=0.008). Osteoarthritis was found to be correlated with condylar limitation (P<0.01). The results of this study indicate that the pathological changes of the LPM in TMJs with ADDnr could be detected by MRI and have a significant association with the main clinical symptoms of the patients. When condylar limitation happened, on the contrary, the pathological changes of the LPM in MRI were reduced. The alteration of the clinical symptoms in the patents with ADDnr might be associated with the pathological situations and symptoms of the LPM.

Temporomandibular disorders, occlusion, and neck pain in subjects with facial pain: a case-control study.

The etiology of facial pain is multifactorial. Based on the results of a questionnaire included in the study of the 1966 Northern Finland Birth Cohort, performed in 1997-98, we found an association of facial pain with subjective symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), neck pain and with occlusal factors reported by 5,696 subjects. The aim of the present study was to examine these associations clinically. In the year 2000, a new inquiry was sent to the following subjects living in Oulu: 1. all subjects who had reported facial pain in the former questionnaire (n=162) (case group); and 2. to a randomly selected group of nonpain controls (n=200), group matched for gender. Those who reported willingness to participate were invited to a clinical examination. Finally, the total number of subjects was 104, including 52 (10 men, 42 women) cases and 52 (10 men, 42 women) controls. Anamnestic data were collected, and clinical stomatognathic and musculoskeletal examinations were performed, both the clinicians and the subjects being unaware of the case-control status. Anamnestically, stress was the most often reported provoking factor for facial pain. Facial pain associated significantly with reported TMD symptoms and allergies. Based on clinical findings, most of the cases were classified in the myogenous subgroup of TMD. The risk for facial pain was six-fold in subjects with clinically assessed TMD, defined as moderate (DiII) or severe (DiIII) by Helkimo's clinical dysfunction index, almost six-fold in subjects with protrusion interferences and approximately three-fold in subjects with clinically assessed tenderness of distinct fibromyalgia (FM) points in the neck. According to the adjusted logistic regression analyses, TMD had the strongest influence on facial pain, followed by protrusion interferences, anamnestically reported allergies and "other headaches". The present study shows that as well as being connected with TMD, facial pain is associated with pain and muscle tenderness in the neck area.

Bimaxillary advancement as the initial treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: five years follow-up of the pori experience.

OBJECTIVES: Bimaxillary advancement surgery has proven to be effective treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. According to the Stanford protocol upper airway soft tissue surgery or advancement of tongue by chin plastic surgery is first carried out and if obstructive sleep apnea persists, then bimaxillary advancement is done. This study describes the 5 year outcome of 13 obstructive sleep apnea patients in whom the Stanford protocol was omitted and bimaxillary advancement was carried out as initial surgical treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients were divided in two groups. Group A comprised patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS) confirmed by polysomnography in whom ODI-4 (oxygen desaturation index) was 5 or more. Group B consisted of patients with occlusal problems needing orthognathic surgery and with OSAS symptoms but no clear disease on polysomnography, where the ODI-4 index was less than 5. Both groups were treated with bimaxillary advancement surgery (BAS) as initial therapy. RESULTS: In the group A mean ODI-4 was 17.8 (SD 12) before treatment and 3.5 (SD 3.4) at 5-year follow-up (P = 0.018 in paired differences t-test). In group B the ODI-4 remained below 5. In group A mean saturation improved from 94.3% (SD 1.6) to 96.3% (SD 2), P = 0.115 and in group B from 96.3% (SD 1.2) to 97.8% (SD 1.7), P = 0.056 (in paired differences t-test). The static charge sensitive bed evaluation showed improvement in all patients except one. CONCLUSIONS: Bimaxillary advancement surgery is safe and reliable as an initial surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Change in subjective oral health after single dental implant treatment.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in subjective oral health among patients receiving single dental implants in different anatomic locations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjective oral health was surveyed with the Oral Health Impact Profile 14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire after implant placement but prior to uncovering and 3 months after the completion of treatment. The locations of the implants and age and gender of the patients were recorded. Mean OHIP-14 severity scores were compared before and after treatment (paired t test). RESULTS: Ninety consecutive self-referred patients were enrolled in the study, and 80 of them (28 men and 52 women) completed the OHIP-14 both before and after treatment. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 52 years (range, 24 to 75 years). The patients received a total of 131 commercially available dental implants (Astra Tech) and appropriate prosthetic constructions. The mean OHIP-14 severity score decreased significantly, from 10.4 before treatment to 3.1 after treatment (P < .001). The drop was from 13.4 to 1.5 (P < .001) if the missing tooth was replaced with an implant in the anterior area, from 11.2 to 4.3 (P < .001) if it was replaced in the premolar area, and from 6.5 to 3.0 (P = .085) if it was replaced in the molar area. In general, both before and after treatment, women reported subjective oral impacts approximately three times more often than men did. CONCLUSION: Replacement of missing teeth with single dental implants in anterior and premolar areas, but not necessarily in molar areas, may significantly improve subjective oral health, especially among women.

Performance of six bone collectors designed for dental implant surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to perform an in vitro comparison of six bone collectors for harvesting of particulate bone. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four commercially available bone collectors (Frios, Osseous Coagulum Trap, ACE Autografter, Bone Trap) and two custom-designed models were tested. Three different in vitro tests were performed to determine the harvesting capabilities of the collectors. In test I, a bovine mandible was drilled and the bone collectors were used to collect bone chips. The harvested bone volumes and dry weights were measured after harvesting. In test II, three dental implant sites were prepared in a bovine mandible. The bones from the implant osteotomies were collected, and bone volumes and dry weights were measured. In test III, 1 ml of bone chips was mixed with water, and suctioned through the bone collectors. The volumes of the bone chips retained were measured to determine the efficiency of each collector. RESULTS: The Osseous Coagulum Trap and the custom-made collectors were the most effective instruments in test I. The mean volumes ranged from 0.17 to 0.38 ml. In test II, the difference between the collectors was small and the bone volume ranged from 0.28 to 0.37 ml. In test III, the Bone Trap became blocked before the other collectors, and its bone procurement was therefore limited. CONCLUSION: Comparison of six different bone collectors in this in vitro study showed that all collectors are usable in clinical situations but their effectiveness varies.