Effects of Impression Coping Design, Impression Technique, and Dental Undercuts on the Accuracy of Implant Impressions Assessed by 3-Dimensional Optical Scanning: An In Vitro Study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of the type and design of the impression copings on the accuracy of implant impressions in 2 different conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A reference model with 2 implants inserted in bilateral mandibular canines was fabricated. The posterior teeth were inserted as tilted to simulate intra-oral undercuts. The teeth were eliminated to create an edentulous condition. Three different impression techniques were performed (open high retentive [OH], open low retentive [OL], closed [C]) for each condition. Total of 48 casts were made. Two scan-bodies were secured on each cast, scanned by an optical scanner. Then, they were compared to the scan of the reference model, and the calculated mean errors were analyzed with a 2-way ANOVA and Tukey test. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the complete and partially edentulous groups (F = 3.252, P = 0.079). There was significant difference between the different designs of the impression copings (F = 31.789, P < 0.001) but the interaction between the dependent variables was not significant (F = 0.511, P = 0.603). CONCLUSIONS: The design of the impression copings was more important than the undercuts. The accuracy of the closed tray coping was greater than the low retentive coping and equal to the high retentive coping.

The effect of time and storage environment on dimensional changes of acrylic resin post patterns.

Introduction : Post and core are needed to regain retentions and functions after endodontic therapies. Also, risk of cross contamination from dental prosthesis is so high. The aim of this study was to compare dimensional changes of acrylic resin patterns (ARP) in three different storing environments. Materials and methods : conventional root canal therapy was done on one first premolar tooth and the canal filled with Guttapercha. 2/3 of the filling was expelled and 30 direct APRs were prepared by Duralay. The samples were divided into 3 groups based on storing environments: water, NaOCl 5% and air. Finally dimensional changes in coronoapical length (CAL), coronal (CD) and apical diameter (AD) of APRs were measured in 7 consecutive times (immediately after polymerization, 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48 hours later). All the data were analyzed by Paired T-test and Duncon test using SPSS software ver.13 at significant level of 0.05. Results : After 24 hours, the ARPs, which were stored in air, contracted 0.07, 0.06 and 0.12 mm in AD, CD and CAL; the ARPs, which were stored in water, showed 0.03, 0.06 and 0.12 mm decrease in AD, CD and CAL; But the ARPs, which were stored in NaOCl 5%, showed significant expansion in AD, CD and CAL (0.03, 0.06 and 0.10 mm) (all P values < 0.01). Conclusion : It is better not to use NaOCl for disinfecting; also the best time for storing APRs is 8 hours for water and 2 hours for air environments after setting time.

Conventional versus implant-retained overlay dentures: a pilot study of masseter and anterior temporalis electromyography.

Implant-supported overlay dentures (ISODs) have been widely accepted among patients using conventional removable complete dentures (CRCDs). The present study aimed to comparatively study conventional and ISODs in terms of function and coordination of masticatory muscles using electromyograms. Included were 10 patients with ISODs (each with 2 implants in the intercanine area). The mean wave range (MWR) and frequency (MWF) of masseter and temporalis were recorded with (ISOD) and without (CRCD) ball attachments while maximum clenching on cotton rolls (cotton roll clenching), maximum intercuspal clenching (clenching), and unilateral gum chewing (chewing) using electromyography. Data were analyzed in SPAW using t-paired for matched groups and independent-sample t tests for unmatched ones. The MWF differences were not statistically significant with or without attachments (P > .05). Without attachments in place, the MWF of both masseter and temporalis muscles significantly decreased when patients clenched on cotton rolls (P = .01 and .02, respectively) and when chewing unilaterally (both P = .01). With attachments present, the right and left temporalis muscles did not show identical mean wave ranges while chewing (P = .01). Without attachments, this disharmony was seen in the left and right masseter muscles (P = .03). The MWR of masseter was higher in men while chewing with attachments (P = .02). Without attachments, the MWR of temporalis was higher in women while cotton roll clenching (P = .03) and chewing (P = .02). These findings are seemingly in favor of improved masticatory function and coordination in edentulous patients with the application of ISODs.

Implant-retained mandibular bar-supported overlay dentures: a finite element stress analysis of four different bar heights.

Proper stress distribution on dental implants is necessary in bar-retained implant overlay dentures. We aimed to comparatively assess this stress distribution according to different bar heights using finite element models. A three-dimensional (3D) computer model of mandible with 2 implants (ITI, 4.1 mm diameter and 12 mm length) in canine areas and an overlying implant-supported bar-retained overlay denture were simulated with 0-, 1-, 2-, and 3-mm bar heights using ABAQUS software. A vertical force was applied to the left first molar and gradually increased from 0 to 50 N. The resultant stress distribution was evaluated. Bars of 1 and 2 mm in height transferred the least stress to the implants (3.882 and 3.896 MPa, respectively). The 0-mm height of the bar connection transferred the highest stress value (4.277 MPa). The amount of stress transferred by 3-mm heights of the bar connection was greater than that of 1- and 2-mm bar connections and smaller than that of 0-mm bar connection (4.165 kgN). This 3D finite element analysis study suggested that the use of Dolder bar attachment with 1- and 2-mm heights could be associated with appropriate stress distribution for implant-retained overlay dentures.