The Assessment of Different Gingival Management Materials for Immediate Implant Treatment in the Esthetic Zone: A Clinical and Biochemical Study.

PURPOSE: To observe the effect of different prosthetic materials (polymethyl methacrylate [PMMA] and flowable composite [FC]) on marginal bone loss, pink esthetic score (PES), and cytokine levels (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand [RANKL] and osteoprotegerin [OPG]). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 46 patients (31 women, 15 men) were treated with immediate implant therapy after tooth extraction. For standardization, only the maxillary premolar tooth of each patient was restored, and also, both of the adjacent teeth were present in the dental arch. Provisional crowns were prepared before the surgery on patient models with two different materials (24 PMMA, 22 FC). Following the surgical procedure, provisional crowns were adjusted on polyetheretherketone (PEEK) abutments as nonfunctional in centric and eccentric movements. After the surgery, patients were evaluated monthly for 3 months. At each follow-up, periapical radiography was obtained by the parallel technique, and peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) was collected. Pink esthetic scoring was done. MBL was calculated for the mesial and distal sides separately. Cytokine levels were analyzed from PICF. Statistical analyses (Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney U, independent-samples t test, Wilcoxon t test, paired-samples t test, and Friedman two-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction) were completed (α = .05). RESULTS: PES was increased significantly within groups (P < .01). However, there was no statistically significant difference between groups. According to the Mann-Whitney U test, no significant difference was found for the MBL (P > .05). When the RANKL/OPG values were evaluated within the group by using the Friedmann two-way analysis of variance test, no significant difference was found (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Similar pink esthetics, cytokine levels, and bone loss can be achieved using a protocol including immediate implants, particle grafts, soft tissue graft, PEEK abutments, and provisional restorations fabricated using PMMA and FC.

Influence of Conventional Complete Dentures and Different Attachment Types in Implant-Supported Overdentures on Quality of Life and Nutritional Status in Edentulous Geriatric Patients.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the use of implant-supported overdentures (IODs) with different attachments influences the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) scores in edentulous patients > 65 years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MNA and GOHAI were administered to 54 edentulous patients > 65 years of age (mean age = 68.35 ± 4.1 years) before treatment (A) and 6 months after treatment (B): 10 with maxillary + mandibular conventional complete dentures (CDs); 10 with a maxillary conventional CD + mandibular magnetic-retained IOD; 12 with a maxillary conventional CD + mandibular ball-retained IOD; 12 with a maxillary conventional CD + mandibular Locator-retained IOD; and 10 with a maxillary conventional CD + mandibular bar-retained IOD. Statistical differences between treatment types were evaluated using one-way analysis of variance and paired-sample t tests. The correlation between MNA and GOHAI scores was determined using Pearson correlation analysis (α = .05). RESULTS: The difference between mean GOHAI-A and GOHAI-B scores was statistically significant for each type of denture (P < .005). The difference between the mean MNA-A and MNA-B scores was statistically significant for all types of denture except for conventional CDs (P < .05). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between MNA and GOHAI scores (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Regardless of the type of denture used, treatment of edentulous geriatric patients is important for improving nutritional status and self-rated oral health.