Transferring subgingival contours around implants and the intaglio surface of the pontic to definitive digital casts by using an intraoral scanner: A technique.

The accurate transfer of the subgingival contours of implant-supported restorations and pontics is essential for providing the dental technician with the necessary information to fabricate an optimal definitive fixed dental prosthesis. However, once the interim restoration is removed to make an impression, the subgingival tissue, which is no longer physically supported, tends to collapse. This digital intraoral and extraoral scanning technique offers a way to transfer the subgingival contours and intaglio surface of the interim restoration to the definitive restoration. In addition, this technique can reduce clinical and laboratory time, as well as the necessity of storing gypsum casts.

Hard and soft tissue evaluation of titanium dental implants and abutments with nanotubes in canines.

BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding the interaction of dental implant surface nanotubes and oral soft and hard tissues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate both histologically and radiographically the qualitative and quantitative effects of dental implant surface nanotubes on hard and soft tissue in a canine model. METHODS: Three subgroups consisting of a combination of test and control implants and abutments (Group A: control implant/control abutment, Group B: control implant/test abutment: Group C: test implant/test abutment) were placed in edentulous mandibles of six large-breed canines. Implants and abutments were placed on one side at baseline, and on the opposite side of the mandible at week 10; sacrifice occurred at week 12. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were used to measure newly formed hard and soft tissues histologically and radiographically. RESULTS: The mean radiographic change in marginal bone level from weeks 0 to 12 between implant groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Mean soft tissue contact (junctional epithelium + connective tissue) for Groups A, B, and C were 2.29, 2.33, and 2.31 mm, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) between the groups. All connective tissue fibers were oriented parallel to the abutment regardless of surface treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that healing of hard and soft tissues around implants and abutments is similar when comparing grit-blasted surfaces to machined, turned surfaces with nanotubes. Both resulted in similar soft tissue contact values, as well as connective tissue fiber orientation.

Implant-Abutment Connections: A Review of Biologic Consequences and Peri-implantitis Implications.

Clinicians very often have seen marginal bone loss around dental implants at the crest level early on after implant placement and uncovering. Early clinical publications had suggested that this bone loss occurred during the first year of loading. Thus, numerous attempts have been made to minimize or eliminate such bone loss. However, the timing and reason for this bone loss are not always apparent. The objective of this study was to review the evidence regarding marginal bone loss around dental implants from the standpoint of biologic consequences to help understand marginal bone changes around dental implants. One hypothesis for the bone loss around these implants was related to the presence of bacteria in the interfaces between the implant and abutment connections. The literature was reviewed regarding the three major types of implant-abutment crestal connections, including butt-joint, platform-switched, and no interface (tissue-level or one-body). This review article revealed that 1.5 to 2.0 mm of bone loss occurred around bone-level, butt-joint connections when the interface was created because the microgap was wide enough for penetration and colonization of bacteria, and that this bone loss was not observed around implants with no interface because they did not have a contaminated interface at the bone crest. Many studies have shown an advantage in the amount of marginal bone resorption for implants with a platform-switched connection, and there appears to be a significantly different biologic reaction. Recent publications indicate that such contaminated implant-abutment connections might have an effect on peri-implantitis and failure over time.