Effect of aging and thermocycling on flexural strength of PEEK as a provisional restoration for full mouth rehabilitation - An In vitro study.

Introduction: To compare the flexural strength of autopolymerizing poly methyl methacrylate resins (PMMA) resin, CAD/CAM milled PMMA and CAD/CAM milled poly ether ether ketone (PEEK) when used as provisional restorative materials for long span situations in full mouth rehabilitation after aging and thermocycling. Materials and Methods: Sixty samples (25 mm × 2 mm × 2 mm) were fabricated using autopolymerizing PMMA resin (GROUP I), CAD/CAM milled PMMA (GROUP II) and PEEK (GROUP III). The groups were subdivided into A and B and subjected to 7 days of aging and 500 cycles of thermocycling (subgroup A) and 14 days of aging and 1000 cycles of thermocycling (subgroup B), respectively, and flexural strength was evaluated using a three-point bend test. The data were analyzed with student t test and pair-wise comparison of mean values was done by ANOVA. Results: The flexural strength of PEEK subjected to 7 days of aging and 500 cycles of thermocycling (III (A) - 6628.70 MPa) was the highest among all groups followed by PEEK subjected to 14 days of aging and 1000 cycles of thermocycling (III (B) - 3760.50 MPa). Conclusion: The mean flexural strength of PEEK was statistically significant than the other two materials tested and hence can be recommended for use as a provisional restorative material for long span situations in full mouth rehabilitation. However, the mean flexural strength of PEEK reduced approximately by 44% when subjected to further aging.

Dental Implants: A Remote Option in Case of Somatic Delusion Disorder.

A 29-year-old female was referred by a psychiatrist for dental implantation and prosthodontic rehabilitation, as she had all her healthy permanent teeth extracted within a span of 2-6 months, due to somatic delusional disorder. She presently refuses artificial dentures and implants with the fear of having worms in her teeth and the fear not yet allayed. The patient cannot be treated for her edentulous state until her psychiatric symptoms are treated. This is the limitation for the implant surgeon where service rendered is impaired in spite of advanced professional skills, ideal patient ridge, and other factors, just where the patient is not mentally prepared for the dental rehabilitation procedures.

Pterygoid Implant for Atrophic Posterior Maxilla.

Replacement of missing teeth in the posterior maxilla is always a challenge for the treating implant surgeon as the posterior maxilla has several obstacles in the form of quality, quantity, the anatomy of the maxillary sinus, and inaccessibility. To overcome these deficiencies, several surgical procedures such as sinus lift, bone augmentation, tilted implants, short implants, and zygomatic implants were tried. Since these procedures have their own limitations, pterygomaxillary region provides us an excellent place for placement of implant and rehabilitation of posterior maxilla. This case report describes the usage of the pterygomaxillary region for placement of the implant to restore atrophic posterior maxilla, without any additional surgical procedures.

Esthetic Management of Compromised Ridge in the Anterior Maxilla, a Modified Prosthetic Approach.

Replacing a missing tooth with an implant, especially in the esthetic zone has been increasing demand for the patient. Placing dental implants in the esthetic zone, especially in the compromised ridge with thin gingival thin biotype is considered to be the ultimate challenge for many dentists. This case report illustrates the implant placement in the traumatic anterior maxilla with thin gingival biotype (Class IV) and a modified approach in prosthetic placement.

Management of gingival recession with acellular dermal matrix graft: A clinical study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Obtaining root coverage has become an important part of periodontal therapy. The aims of this studyare to evaluate the clinical efficacy of acellular dermal matrix graft in the coverage of denuded roots and also to examine the change in the width of keratinized gingiva. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 sites with more than or equal to 2 mm of recession depth were taken into the study, for treatment with acellular dermal matrix graft. The clinical parameters such as recession depth, recession width, width of keratinized gingiva, probing pocket depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured at the baseline, 8th week, and at the end of the study (16th week). The defects were treated with a coronally positioned pedicle graft combined with acellular dermal matrix graft. RESULTS: Out of 20 sites treated with acellular dermal matrix graft, seven sites showed complete root coverage (100%), and the mean root coverage obtained was 73.39%. There was a statistically significant reduction in recession depth, recession width, and probing PD. There was also a statistically significant increase in width of keratinized gingiva and also gain in CAL. The postoperative results were both clinically and statistically significant (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study were esthetically acceptable to the patients and clinically acceptable in all cases. From this study, it may be concluded that acellular dermal matrix graft is an excellent substitute for autogenous graft in coverage of denuded roots.

Peri-implant soft tissue management: A case report (2 years follow-up) (Patrick Palacci technique revisited).

Peri-implant plastic surgery aims at improving the esthetic aspects of smile and masticatory function. Over the years, several techniques such as tissue punch technique, full thickness flaps, and scalloping adjustment of flaps around implants have been employed; it was very difficult to achieve a papilla like formation around implants. These added time and expense of the final results and led to undesirable complications. In order to overcome these difficulties, this case report describes a surgical technique where in papilla like formation and increase in width of attached gingiva around implants can be achieved with a single surgical procedure.

Interdental papilla regeneration around implants: A novel window technique (2 years follow-up).

Reconstructing predictable and esthetic papilla is the most complex and challenging aspect of implant dentistry. To obtain an esthetic and predictable gingival architecture and implant restoration, interdental papilla plays an important role. The main objective of the surgeon during the second stage of implant treatment should be the creation of interdental papilla prior to prosthetic restoration. The aim of this case report was to demonstrate a novel window technique for developing predictable and esthetic papilla around dental implants, which was followed for 2 years with excellent esthetic results.