Conversion of the anatomic crown of a natural tooth to an interim-retained restoration for enhanced esthetics and soft tissue stability in the maxillary esthetic zone: A clinical report.

Immediate non-functional loading of an implant in the anterior region is a documented treatment modality with high success rates. This therapeutic approach is frequently used to overcome esthetic and functional problems during the provisionalization period, but also because it provides better support of the peri-implant soft tissues. For that purpose, an implant-supported resin restoration, either traditionally or digitally made, is used. This clinical report describes the modification of patient's natural tooth, that was previously fractured, used as an implant-supported provisional restoration to obtain better esthetics and preservation of the soft tissues in their original, pre-extraction, position.

Efficacy of two site-development procedures for implants in the maxillary esthetic region: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to identify studies in which either orthodontic extrusion or bone grafting was used prior to single implant placement in the maxillary esthetic zone and to compare the biologic, functional, and esthetic outcomes of these two approaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic MEDLINE search was conducted by three independent reviewers to identify English-language articles, published in dental journals between January 1992 and August 2013, reporting on single-implant site development accomplished by orthodontic forced eruption of nonrestorable teeth or by bone grafting procedures. The search terms were categorized into four groups comprising a PICO (problem, intervention, comparison, outcome) question. Supplementary manual searches of published full-text articles and related reviews were also performed. RESULTS: The initial database search produced 301 relevant titles. After careful examination and discussion, 32 studies were selected for inclusion. No study directly comparing the two implant site-development methods was identified. The observation periods of the available studies were either short or not stated. CONCLUSION: There is a substantial lack of evidence to determine which method for implant site development is better. Definitive conclusions cannot be drawn, since no clinical trials have directly compared these two methods. All included studies reported separately on the two implant site-development methods and used different protocols. According to the literature reviewed, it seems that both methods of implant site development are effective and neither method is superior. Multicenter studies and randomized clinical trials should be performed to evaluate the efficacy of these two methods.

Conversion of an existing metal ceramic crown to an interim restoration and nonfunctional loading of a single implant in the maxillary esthetic zone: A clinical report.

Implant placement and immediate placement of an interim restoration can be a safe therapeutic approach with high survival rates. The technique is often used in the anterior esthetic area because of the better preservation of the periimplant soft tissue contours. Traditionally this procedure involves the fabrication of an acrylic resin implant-supported interim restoration. This clinical report describes the modification of an existing metal ceramic crown to be used as an implant-supported interim restoration for immediate nonfunctional loading to achieve an improved esthetic result and optimal support of the adjacent soft tissues.

Clinical, radiographic, microbiological, and immunological outcomes of flapped vs. flapless dental implants: a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare the placement of flapped vs. flapless dental implants utilizing clinical, radiographic, microbiological, and immunological parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 20 patients received 30 dental implants following a one-stage protocol. The patients were randomly assigned into two study groups: control group with 15 flapped implants and test group with 15 flapless implants. Follow-up examinations were carried out after 1, 2, 6, and 12 weeks. Clinical recordings, sulcular fluid sampling, microbiological analysis, and digital subtraction radiography were utilized to compare the two surgical approaches. RESULTS: Peri-implant sulcus depth was significantly greater in flapped implants at both 6 and 12 postsurgical weeks (P < 0.001). Flapped implants showed crestal bone loss (0.29 ± 0.06 mm), whereas no bone resorption was detected around flapless implants. Matrix metalloproteinase-8 values were higher to a statistically significant level in the control group at 1 (P = 0.003) and 6 weeks (P = 0.007) after placement. In the test group, the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis was significantly higher at the 2nd postoperative week (P = 0.005), whereas the counts of Tannerella forsythia were significantly elevated at the 1st (P = 0.005), 2nd (P = 0.001), and 12th (P = 0.002) postoperative weeks, possibly indicating an earlier formation and maturation of the peri-implant sulcus. Patients reported more pain after flapped implant placement. CONCLUSIONS: Flapless implant placement yielded improved clinical, radiographic, and immunological outcomes compared with flapped implantation. In addition, patients seem to better withstand flapless implant placement.

Immediate provisionalization and nonfunctional loading of a single implant in the maxillary esthetic zone: a clinical presentation and parameters for consideration.

Restoration of single tooth loss with implant supported prosthesis is now considered a highly predictable treatment. However, the maxillary anterior region still presents a challenge for both the prosthodontist and the periodontist because of the inherent difficulties encountered in the provisionalization and harmonic incorporation of the definitive prosthesis into patient's dentogingival complex. This paper presents a clinical case of a single implant placed immediately after the extraction of a maxillary central incisor, followed by immediate provisionalization and nonfunctional loading. The surgical and the restorative techniques are described, and the parameters of consideration for this approach are presented.

Systematic assessment of clinical outcomes in bone-level and tissue-level endosseous dental implants.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present systematic review was to address the following question: in patients treated with dental implants placed in pristine bone, what are the clinical and radiographic outcomes of bone-level (BL) implants in comparison to tissue-level (TL) implants after restoration with dental prostheses? MATERIALS AND METHODS: Scanning of online literature databases from 1966 to January 2012, supplemented by hand searching, was conducted to identify relevant prospective randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, and cohort studies. Sequential screenings at the title, abstract, and full-text levels were performed independently and in duplicate. A meta-analysis was conducted to compile data from the primary studies included in this systematic review. RESULTS: The search strategy revealed a total of 5,998. Screening at the title level resulted in 752 papers, while screening at the abstract level yielded 92 publications. Full-text reading identified nine articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria of this review. The pooled estimated difference between BL and TL implants in mean marginal bone loss was 0.05 mm (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.03 to 0.13 mm), with no statistically significant difference between the groups at 1 year after placement of the definitive prostheses. The relative risk of implant loss was estimated at 1.00 (95% CI, 0.99 to 1.02) at 1 year and at 1.01 (95% CI, 0.99 to 1.03) at 3 years after restoration, indicating no evidence of an increased risk of implant loss in BL compared to TL implants. CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant differences in bone loss and survival rates were detected between BL and TL dental implants over a short-term observation period (1 to 3 years). Thus, both implant systems fulfill the requirements for the replacement of missing teeth in implant dentistry.

Cigarette smoking associated with advanced periodontal destruction in a Greek sample population of patients with periodontal disease.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible risk factor related to the severity of periodontal destruction in an adult Greek population and to determine possible risk factors of chronic periodontal disease. METHODS: The 115 participants (mean age 47.5, range 28-74 years) were referred for periodontal treatment in two high-standard therapeutic centers. All individuals were clinically examined and answered a detailed questionnaire. The sociodemographic characteristics and periodontal findings were recorded and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of periodontal destruction was significantly high, as 91.3% of the participants had at least one tooth with attachment loss > or = 7 mm and 73% presented with mean loss of attachment > 4 mm. In this subject cohort, 31.3% had never smoked, 15.7% had quit smoking, and 53% were currently smokers (heavy, moderate, or occasional). Heavy smokers exhibited worse periodontal tissue breakdown and less bleeding tendency compared to moderate, infrequent, or never smokers. Among the other investigated parameters, age and customary oral hygiene practices were correlated with periodontal pocket formation and clinical attachment loss. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that smoking appears to be a major environmental factor associated with accelerated periodontal destruction in an adult urban Greek population with regular oral hygiene habits.

Solitary superficial microcystic lymphatic malformation (lymphangioma circumscriptum) of the gingiva.

BACKGROUND: Lymphatic malformations are uncommon, hamartomatous, developmental aberrations of the lymphatic system. The case presented in this report is a rare solitary gingival involvement of a microcystic-type lymphatic malformation. METHODS: The lesion presented clinically as a small vesicular swelling of a buccal interdental papilla in a 16-year-old girl. Involved tissues were excised and submitted for routine histologic examination. The expression of the endothelial marker CD34 was investigated using immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: A physical examination failed to reveal similar or other abnormalities elsewhere in the body of the patient, including the oral cavity. Histopathologic analysis of the specimen demonstrated the presence of subepithelial, thin-walled, distended vascular cavities forming confluent vesicles containing lymph. The dilated lymphatic formations were lined by flattened CD34-negative endothelial cells. These features were consistent with a microcystic gingival lymphatic malformation. To the best of our knowledge, only two additional reports of this malformation have been published to date, but both presented with bilateral gingival involvement. CONCLUSION: Even though lymphatic malformations are encountered very infrequently on gingiva, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of related conditions with a vesicular clinical appearance.

Gingival involvement in a case series of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related Kaposi sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: This case series presents the polymorphic clinical characteristics of gingival acquired immunodeficieny syndrome (AIDS)-related Kaposi sarcoma (KS), a malignancy that is gradually becoming uncommon in developed nations. An up-to-date overview of the related epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, histopathology, and treatment is provided, along with a pictorial guide to ease clinical diagnosis. METHODS: The oral/maxillofacial pathology records at Aristotle University and the University of Geneva were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-two cases diagnosed with oral AIDS-related KS were retrieved between 1991 and 2004. KS diagnosis was established histologically by incisional biopsies from intraoral lesions. All charts contained clinical oral examination data, radiological images, and detailed photographic records. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (12 males and one female) presented with KS gingival involvement (40.6%). Eleven of the male patients were homosexual/bisexual men. The mean age of the patients at the time of intraoral KS diagnosis was 42.1 years, and the mean CD4 cell count was 103 (0 to 481). Gingival epidemic KS presented with various degrees of pigmentation and a wide range of clinical patterns, from relatively flat macules (early stage) to tumors with variable nodular morphology (advanced disease). Solitary or multiple gingival involvement may appear concomitantly with palatal and/or cutaneous lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the incidence of intraoral KS had fallen precipitously in developed countries after the mid-1990s, gingival KS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of every pigmented gingival lesion. Periodontists are in a unique position to identify gingival involvement of intraoral KS and facilitate early diagnosis.

A simple impression technique for dental implants placed in close proximity or adverse angulations.

This article presents a method for overcoming difficulties associated with the impression procedures for implants placed in close proximity or with adverse angulations, which make the placement of the impression copings problematic.

Critical hemorrhage in the floor of the mouth during implant placement in the first mandibular premolar position: a case report.

Although dental implantation is considered to be a safe surgical procedure, this report focuses on a critical hemorrhaging episode associated with implant placement in the first mandibular premolar position. Excessive bleeding and formation of massive lingual, sublingual, and submandibular hematomas were the result of arterial trauma that occurred during the osteotomy preparation. The vascular injury was induced through a perforation of the lingual mandibular cortex. Critical bleeding was conservatively controlled and the case was further handled efficiently with an expectant airway management in a hospital environment. Similar case reports are reviewed in an attempt to draw attention to this rare but potentially life-endangering risk of implant dentistry. Common causes of severe hemorrhage in the floor of the mouth, anatomical considerations, bleeding control measures, and related airway issues are also discussed.

Hemorrhaging associated with endosseous implant placement in the anterior mandible: a review of the literature.

The placement of endosseous dental implants is largely considered a safe surgical procedure. However, upper airway obstruction secondary to severe bleeding in the floor of the mouth has been occasionally reported as a rare but potentially fatal complication of implant surgery. This review presents critical hemorrhagic episodes, related to dental implantation in the anterior segments of the mandible, published to date. Massive internal bleeding in the highly vascularized region of the floor of the mouth is the result of an arterial trauma induced by instrumentation, usually through a perforation of the lingual cortical plate. Depending on the clinical situation, hemorrhage may commence immediately or with some delay after the vascular insult. The progressively expanding lingual, sublingual, submandibular, and submental hematomas have the tendency of displacing the tongue and floor of the mouth to obstruct the airway. Because the course of airway deterioration to complete occlusion may be rapid, ensuring a patent airway is of highest priority. Even though upper airway obstruction is potentially life-threatening, a secure airway was successfully established in all patients without fatal consequences. In most cases, resolution of hemorrhage required a surgical intervention for ligation of the bleeding vessels and hematoma evacuation. To reduce the probability of such a grave complication, preventive and precautionary measures to be taken before, during, and after implant placement in the anterior mandible are presented. Issues related to the level of surgical experience, fine regional arterial anatomy, radiographic and clinical evaluation of the osseous morphology, angulation and length of implants, and timing of hemorrhage onset are discussed. In addition, airway and bleeding management strategies are provided.

Treatment of intrabony periodontal defects with enamel matrix derivative: a literature review.

The enamel matrix derivative (EMD) has been recently introduced in the periodontal field to overcome short-comings associated with currently available regenerative techniques. Information accumulated over the past years with application of EMD guided regeneration (EGR) in intrabony periodontal defects allowed a thorough evidence-based retrospective analysis. Clinical data from EMD controlled studies were pooled for meta-analysis and weighted according to the number of treated defects. Clinical attachment gain amounted to 3.2 +/- 0.9 mm (33% of the original attachment level) and probing reduction averaged 4.0 +/- 0.9 mm (50% of the baseline probing depth) for a total of 317 lesions with a mean baseline depth of 5.4 +/- 0.8 mm. Improvements in clinical parameters achieved with EMD were statistically significant in reference to preoperative measurements. However, despite the overall efficacy of EGR therapy, a significant variation in clinical outcomes was observed. Similar therapeutic results were reported in studies where EGR was compared directly to guided tissue regeneration. However, the controlled clinical trials did not have adequate statistical power to firmly support superiority or equivalency between the 2 regenerative therapies. The statistical superiority of EGR over treatment with open flap debridement has been established. Preliminary histologic investigations with surgically created defects and experimental periodontal lesions demonstrated the ability of EGR to induce formation of acellular cementum and promote significant anaplasis of the supporting periodontal tissues. The potential of EMD to encourage periodontal regeneration was also confirmed in human intrabony defects. However, recent human histologic studies have questioned both the consistency of the histologic outcomes and the ability of EGR to predictably stimulate formation of acellular cementum. Identifying clinical modifying parameters and understanding cellular interactions are apparently essential for the development of methodologies to enhance predictability and extent of EGR clinical and histologic results.