Efficacy of the Sausage Technique in Rebuilding the Crestal Buccal Bone Thickness: A Retrospective Analysis.

The goal was to evaluate the efficacy of the sausage technique in reconstructing the crestal buccal bone thickness, focusing on the distribution shape of the regenerated volume. Ten implants were placed in five patients with Cawood-Howell class IV defects. A cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was executed at T0 (before surgery). Guided bone regeneration (GBR) with the sausage technique utilized a resorbable collagen membrane, made of a 50% autologous bone and a 50% anorganic bovine bone matrix (ABBM) mixture. After 6 months, a CBCT (T1) was performed before implant placement. Using CBCT software, a plane parallel to the implant axis intersected perpendicular planes every 1.5 mm from the crest level. T0 and T1 CBCT sections were analyzed, yielding 140 measurements. Statistical analysis via SPSS revealed a significant increase in thickness (average 2.82 ± 1.79 mm). Maximum gains occurred at 4.5 mm from the coronal crest line (3.8 ± 1.51 mm). The GBR sausage technique was effective with minimal post-operative complications, yielding the biggest gain at the mid-ridge sagittal area. Within the analysis limitations, it can be assumed that the sausage technique is effective for horizontal GBR in the maxilla, but a lesser volume might be achieved at the crestal level because it seems to follow a bowed regeneration shape.

"A conservative technique for fractured implant abutment screw retrieval on an internal connection implant: proof of concept (PoC)".

INTRODUCTION: Broken screw removal from the implant connection is a common but challenging process. Several proposed methods and technical solutions may result in unsuccessful removal; thus, a novel, more conservative, risk-free method is proposed as a first attempt. DESCRIPTION OF THE CASE: The proposal is to use a silicon restoration holder to be twisted counterclockwise on the dried surface of the broken fragment inside the implant connection. This method, within the limitations of a minimal case series, yielded 100% results; however, despite previous attempts with less con- servative techniques, this approach showed no efficacy. CONCLUSION: This article aims to promote the use of silicon restoration holders as a minimally invasive first attempt at broken screw retrieval treatment before considering other options.