Incidence of straight and angulated screw channel following immediate implant placement in esthetic zone: A simulated cone-beam computed tomography study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The demand for immediate implant placement (IIP) in the esthetic zone is rapidly increasing. Despite the treatment's benefits, the sagittal root position often dictates implant angulation, commonly necessitating the use of cement-retained restorations. This study investigates the impact of angulated screw channel on IIP in the esthetic zone. PURPOSE: The purpose of this cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) study was to determine the probability of IIP in the esthetic zone, using four different implant angulations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of CBCT images was conducted and accessed on 9 June 2021. The midsagittal images of maxillary anterior teeth were input into an implant planning software (Implant Studio®). Bone Level X Straumann® implant (BLX 3.5, 3.75, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 mm) and Bone Level Tapered implant (BLT 2.9, 3.3 mm) were selected for 3D implant planning of IIP in the esthetic zone. The frequency distribution and probability of IIP were recorded and compared among all maxillary anterior teeth. RESULTS: CBCT images from 720 teeth (120 patient) were evaluated, revealing an overall probability of IIP in the esthetic zone is 76.11% (548/720). Different implant restoration type was evaluated in this study, with the following results; straight screw-retained prosthesis at 3.47% (19/548), cement-retained prosthesis at 14.59% (80/548) and angle screw-retained prosthesis at 85.40% (468/548). CONCLUSION: IIP with traditional straight screw-retained prosthesis demonstrated the lowest probability. Nevertheless, the use of angulated screw channels enhances the probability of achieving straight screw-retained prostheses. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The angulated screw channel is essential for increasing the probability of screw-retained prosthesis in IIP in the esthetic zone. However, limitation in screw angle correction still necessitate the use of cement-retained prostheses for numbers of patients undergoing IIP.

Establishing Clinically Acceptable PES/WES Threshold for Single- Tooth Implant Restoration.

PURPOSE: Determining the esthetic success of single-tooth implant restorations (STIR) requires an objective tool such as one devised by Belser et al., 2009 - pink esthetic scores and white esthetic scores (PES/WES). This study aimed to utilized PES/WES to establish threshold scores based on (1) detectability and (2) acceptability of a STIR by lay person perception, (3) to study the difference in the ability of laypeople and dentists in detecting the presence of STIR, and (4) to study the pink and white deficiencies in relation to the detectability of the presence of STIR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 38 calibrated photographs of STIR in the anterior region were scored with PES/WES by 3 prosthodontists. Next, 100 laypeople and 60 dentists were instructed to identify the STIR among the anterior teeth and provide reasoning behind the identification (based on pink and white esthetic criteria). The acceptance of the STIR was recorded. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis was utilized to determine the threshold scores. RESULTS: At the PES/WES score of 17, 71% of laypeople could not correctly identify the STIR, and at the PES/WES score of 12, 80% of laypeople accepted the implant. Out of 3,800 occasions, laypeople correctly identified the STIR 1,770 (46.58%) of those occasions. Among the correctly identified STIR, 751 (42.43%) of those occasions were identified with pink deficiencies and 1019 (57.57%) of those occasions were with white deficiencies. Out of 2,280 occasions, dentists correctly identified STIR 1869 (81.98%) of those occasions. CONCLUSIONS: The PES/WES score of 12 indicates the clinically acceptable threshold, while the score of 17 indicates the detectable threshold for an exceptional esthetic outcome. Laypeople tend to accept the implant despite its detectability. For both laypeople and dentists, root convexity/soft tissue color and texture are the most focused criteria of PES/WES, followed by overall white deficiencies that remain influential. Compared to laypeople, dentists tend to have a higher ability to detect STIR.

What is the Optimal Material for Implant Prosthesis?

Implant dentistry has shifted to prosthetically guided implant planning and placement. This shift has influenced the range of available dental materials to restore single crowns and partially and fully edentulous jaws with dental implants. This article presents an overview of the available options to restore dental implants. The qualities that define an ideal restoring material are discussed along with the most commonly used materials with their advantages and limitations. Because clinicians face different clinical scenarios in their practice, the discussion sums up the best techniques and materials that are useful in addressing these nonideal situations.