Survey of consultants in restorative dentistry in the UK regarding ongoing care of patients provided with dental implants.

Background Funding for implant-based treatment within secondary care is limited, and acceptance criteria are determined locally according to funding agreements with NHS England. Indefinite review of all patients in secondary care is unlikely to be feasible due to limitations on departmental capacity. The increasing number of patients provided with implant-based treatment in secondary care has resulted in a growing maintenance burden, raising the question of who should provide this care. Management of some complications within primary care would facilitate patients' access to treatment, although no specific provision for maintenance of implant-retained prostheses is made within the NHS Dental Charges Regulations.Materials and methods An online survey was carried out to review services provided within restorative dentistry departments across the UK, investigating departmental protocols for review and maintenance of patients provided with dental implants.Results There was no consensus view on review protocols, discharge or provision of maintenance following implant placement. Fifty-seven percent would indefinitely carry out remake of implant-retained overdentures when clinically indicated, replace worn inserts, housings or abutments. Sixty-one percent would manage loose/lost screw- or cement-retained restorations and 68% would manage fractured restorations. Re-referral for peri-implant disease would be accepted by 64% of respondents. The lack of clear NHS funding for the management of complications was of concern to respondents in this survey.

The management of traumatic tooth loss with dental implants: Part 1.

Traumatic dental injuries are relatively common causes of emergency presentation to general dental practitioners. There are well established guidelines for the management of traumatised teeth, which practitioners should be familiar with and able to deliver. Some teeth, however, are either lost at the time of injury or are found to have a hopeless long-term prognosis despite appropriate treatment. The first article in this two-part series covers the important aspects of maintaining teeth where possible, to preserve the supporting hard and soft tissues. It then describes the replacement of a single tooth lost due to trauma and the relative challenges faced. The second article covers more extensive trauma, involving multiple teeth and where significant supporting tissues are lost. It describes the replacement of teeth, including the hard and soft tissues with implant supported restorations, whilst highlighting the need for a multidisciplinary team in severe cases.

The restorative management of the deep overbite.

A deep overbite is where the vertical overlap of the upper and lower incisors exceeds half of the lower incisal tooth height. Problems associated with the deep overbite can include soft tissue trauma, lack of inter-occlusal space and tooth wear, all of which can present significant challenges for the restorative dentist. While management options very much depend on the nature of the situation and patient's symptoms, options may range from provision of a simple removable appliance or splint and non-surgical periodontal therapy, to multidisciplinary care involving orthodontics, orthognathic surgery and restorative dentistry. Restorative management may involve an increase in the occlusal vertical dimension with fixed restorations or removable prostheses, and careful assessment and treatment planning is essential. This article discusses the aetiology and restorative management strategies for deep and traumatic overbites.

Amelogenesis imperfecta - lifelong management. Restorative management of the adult patient.

The biggest challenge restorative dentists face in rehabilitating patients with amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is trying to restore aesthetics, function and occlusal stability while keeping the treatment as conservative as possible. The goals of treatment should be to prolong the life of the patient's own teeth and avoid or delay the need for extractions and subsequent replacement with conventional fixed, removable or implant retained prostheses. In order to achieve these goals a stepwise approach to treatment planning is required starting with the most conservative but aesthetically acceptable treatment. This article discusses the management of AI and presents the various treatment options available for restoring the adult patient who presents to the dentist with AI.

Gingival recession: part 2. Surgical management using pedicle grafts.

This paper is the second in a three part series looking at the aetiology and management of gingival recession. Part one discussed the aetiology and non-surgical management and this part aims to discuss the use of pedicle soft tissue grafts in the treatment of gingival recession. This article also considers the factors affecting the outcome of surgical procedures used to treat localised recession defects. The third paper in this series will consider the use of free soft tissue grafts and guided tissue regeneration.

Gingival recession: part 3. Surgical management using free grafts and guided tissue regeneration.

This paper is the third in a three part series looking at the aetiology and management of gingival recession. Part 1 in this series discussed the aetiology of gingival recession and the non-surgical management. Part 2 discussed in detail the factors affecting the outcome of periodontal surgery and the use of pedicle flaps. This paper aims to discuss the surgical options available to correct localised recession defects using free grafts and guided tissue regeneration.

Gingival recession: Part 1. Aetiology and non-surgical management.

Gingival recession is a common finding in many patients. Some patients will not be concerned whereas others will have aesthetic concerns or complain of sensitivity. This paper highlights the aetiology of gingival recession, the treatment options available to treat any associated sensitivity and the non-surgical treatment options available to restore aesthetics in patients with gingival recession. Subsequent papers in this series discuss the surgical treatment options available to correct localised recession defects.

Resin bonded bridges: techniques for success.

Resin bonded bridges are a minimally invasive option for replacing missing teeth. Although they were first described over 30 years ago, evidence regarding their longevity remains limited and these restorations have developed an undeserved reputation for failure. This article provides a brief review of the literature regarding bridge success and continues to highlight aspects of case selection, bridge design and clinical procedure which may improve outcome.

New teeth from old: treatment options for retained primary teeth.

Retention of primary teeth beyond their expected exfoliation date is encountered relatively frequently. Most commonly this is due to absence of the permanent successor. In this article patient assessment and the restorative treatment options are discussed with particular emphasis on retention of the primary tooth/teeth in the medium to long-term. The restorative techniques that may be used to improve aesthetics and function of retained primary teeth are illustrated. Consideration of this minimally invasive approach is commended in such cases.

Conservative aesthetic techniques for discoloured teeth: 2. Micro-abrasion and composite.

The first article in this series discussed the minimal intervention approach to discoloured teeth, starting with dental bleaching. This second article goes on to explain the technique of microabrasion and the use of direct composite techniques.

Conservative aesthetic techniques for discoloured teeth: 1. The use of bleaching.

There is an increasing move towards more minimally invasive techniques in restorative dentistry. This series of two articles discusses conservative techniques for the treatment of discoloured teeth. A step-wise approach to treatment is promoted to encourage the most conservative solution to achieve satisfactory aesthetics. The first of these two articles will describe the use of bleaching, whilst part two will go on to describe microabrasion and the use of direct composite resin.