Maximum Bite Force of Edentulous Patients before and after Dental Implant Rehabilitation: Long-Term Follow-Up and Facial Type Influence.

PURPOSE: (1) To evaluate patients' long-term maximum bite force (MBF) after rehabilitation with mandibular implant-supported prosthesis, (2) to assess the influence of facial pattern in MBF, and (3) to evaluate the relation between the dominant chewing side and MBF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients were selected. Pre- (T0) and immediate post-rehabilitation (T1) data of MBF were collected. In a follow-up visit 3 to 5 years after rehabilitation (T2), 24 patients participated. The patients were asked about dominant chewing side, and facial pattern was obtained by the initial lateral radiographs. RESULTS: There was statistically significant increase in MBF in T1 - T0 = 5.4 ± 4.3 kgf, T2 - T1 = 5.5 ± 6.0 kgf. There was no statistically significant difference in MBF considering facial type, brachyfacial (T0 = 4.4, T1 = 10.7, T2 = 17.6 kgf), mesofacial (T0 = 4.1, T1 = 9.7, T2 = 16.5 kgf), and dolichofacial (T0 = 3.4, T1 = 7.9, T2 = 12.6 kgf). CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant relation between MBF and the dominant chewing side. It can be concluded that mandibular rehabilitation with dental implants improves MBF independent of the facial pattern and dominant chewing side.

Morse Taper Implants Immediately Loaded in Fresh Extraction Sockets: A Prospective Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate survival rate and bone response around immediate loaded Morse taper implants installed in fresh sockets on the anterior area of the maxilla. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample comprised 16 patients in whom 16 single implants were installed. All the teeth were extracted in a flapless surgery. Radiographic and tomographic evaluations were performed immediately after surgery (T1) and after 12 months (T2). The variables studied were height of the buccal wall (HBW), buccal wall width (BW) at 3 levels, and proximal bone height at 2 different areas: the alveolar crest level (CLH) and at the point where bone tissue meets the implant surface (BIS). RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed. The buccal plate showed bone loss in height (HBW = -0.50 ± 0.42 mm) and in width (BW-1 = -0.71 ± 0.48 mm; BW-2 = -0.48 ± 0.34 mm; BW-3 = -0.48 ± 0.34 mm). In the proximal areas, there was also bone loss in height (CLH-M = -0.85 ± 0.89 mm; BIS-M = -0.91 ± 0.70 mm; CLH-D = -0.64 ± 0.57 mm; and BIS-D = -0.68 ± 0.62 mm). CONCLUSION: There was 100% survival rate after a 12-month period, but bone loss was observed in all evaluated areas.

Adaptive condylar growth and mandibular remodelling changes with bionator therapy--an implant study.

The purpose of this study was to describe condylar growth and mandibular remodelling changes associated with bionator therapy. Twenty-five patients (15 males and 10 females) between 6.9 and 11.2 years of age with Class II division 1 malocclusions were randomly allocated to either control (n = 11) or treatment (n = 14; bionator only) groups and followed longitudinally for approximately 1 year. Treatment consisted of a bionator only, constructed to clear the buccal dentition by 2 mm and to position the mandible into an edge-to-edge incisor relationship. Using metallic implants for superimposition, mandibular growth, displacement, and true rotation were evaluated cephalometrically. The results showed significant changes in the direction (more posterior) but not in the overall amount of condylar growth. The bionator appliance produced greater than expected posterior drift of landmarks in the condylar and gonial regions. Cranial base superimposition showed greater than expected anterior mandibular displacement, but little or no true mandibular forward rotation with bionator therapy. The bionator appliance alone produced changes in condylar growth direction and remodelling changes associated with mandibular rotation and displacement.