Long-term outcome of the IMZ implant system: a retrospective clinical study with a follow-up between 23 and 34 years.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiographic and peri-implant outcomes of intramobile cylinder implants (IMZs) and the feasibility of long-term follow-up studies after nearly 30 years. METHODS: Of the 94 patients treated with IMZ implants between 1981 and 1995, 39 patients were successfully contacted (contact group, CG), of which 15 patients with a total of 32 implants agreed to participate in the present follow-up study (clinical evaluation group, CEG). The overall implant survival rate was calculated. Information on implant status and oral and general health data was collected. Marginal bone level was evaluated and then compared to the patients' baseline data. Possible risk factors for peri-implantitis were also identified. RESULTS: In total, 16 implants in seven patients were lost, amounting to an overall survival rate of 79.5% after 30 years with a mean follow-up time of 24 ± 10 years (CG). Eight patients were treated with bar-retained mandibular overdentures and seven patients had fixed partial dentures. After a mean observation time of 29 ± 3 years, the surviving implants showed a peri-implantitis rate of 9.4% with a mean marginal bone loss of 2.5 ± 1.8 mm (CEG). No significant correlation between peri-implantitis and possible risk factors could be found. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term follow-up studies with acceptable response rates after nearly 30 years are not feasible. Contact was only possible with 41% of the patients. This contact group showed a high implant survival rate. Due to the retrospective study design, additional risk factors could not be considered in a conclusive analysis.

Dental health evaluation of children in kosovo.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess caries prevalence of preschool and school children in Kosovo. METHODS: The assessment, which was carried out between 2002 and 2005, included measurements of early childhood caries, deft and DMFT. RESULTS: In total, 1,237 preschool and 2,556 school children were examined. The mean deft of preschool children was 5.9, and the mean DMFT of school children aged 12 was 5.8. The caries prevalence for 2- to 6-year-old preschool children was 91.2%, and the prevalence for 7- to 14-year-old school children was 94.4%. The prevalence of early childhood caries was 17.6%, with a mean deft of 10.6. CONCLUSIONS: All data assessed showed the very poor oral health status of children in Kosovo. Interviews with children and teachers indicated poor knowledge regarding oral health. Significant measures must be taken to improve this situation.