Extra-short implants in the prosthetic rehabilitation of the posterior maxilla.

AIM: To compare clinical outcomes of 'extra-short' and regular bone level implants in the posterior maxilla for 12 months after loading. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three systemically healthy, non-smoking patients received 30 extra-short, 24 regular bone level implants. Acrylic stents were fabricated for each patient for correct implant positioning. Implant lengths were 4-6 mm in the test, 8/10 mm in the control group. Radiographic evaluation was performed at baseline, 6, and 12 months after loading. Crestal bone level (CBL), CBL change (CBLC), true crown length (TCL), implant/crown ratio (ICR) and residual bone height (RBH) below maxillary sinus floor were calculated digitally. Data were tested statistically. RESULTS: Residual bone height was significantly lower, and TCL and ICR were higher in the test than the control group (P < 0.0001). CBL measurements at baseline were 0.19 ± 0.18 mm and 0.31 ± 0.37 mm and at 12 months, 0.24 ± 0.24 mm and 0.41 ± 0.31 mm, respectively in the test and control groups. CBL values at 12 months were significantly lower in the test than the control group (P < 0.05). CBLCs were similar at all times (P > 0.05). No correlation was found between the CBLC and implant/prosthetic parameters. CONCLUSION: Extra-short and regular implants might provide similar clinical outcomes in prosthetic rehabilitation of atrophic maxilla, during 12 months follow-up.

Smokers have a higher risk of inflammatory peri-implant disease than non-smokers.

AIM: To comparatively evaluate peri-implant health status in smokers and non-smokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 142 implants (74 implants in non-smokers, 68 in smokers) in 43 smoker or non-smoker systemically healthy patients were included in the study. Demographic and clinical periodontal data were recorded and analysed by chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Peri-implantitis and mucositis cases were significantly more frequent in the smokers than non-smokers (p = .001). Suppuration, bleeding and plaque scores around the implants were significantly higher in smokers than non-smokers (p = .001; p = .002; p < .0001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The present findings indicate that smokers have a higher risk of inflammatory peri-implant diseases. Therefore, more frequent recalls may be recommended in smokers with dental implants.

Intentional replantation of adhesively reattached vertically fractured maxillary single-rooted teeth.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of intentionally replanted maxillary single-rooted teeth with vertical root fractures (VRFs) after being repaired extraorally using 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride/methacrylate-tri-n-butyl borane (4-META/MMA-TBB) resin cement. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-one root filled maxillary single-rooted teeth with VRFs were evaluated. After atraumatic extraction, fractured fragments were adhesively cemented. The teeth were then replanted and splinted to the neighbouring teeth for 2 weeks. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months, and radiographic evaluations were made using PAI scores at baseline and 12 months. Mobility was evaluated using periotest values (PTV) at baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Replanted teeth, contralateral teeth (control teeth) and adjacent teeth were analysed statistically using repeated measures one-way anova, unpaired t-tests and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank tests. RESULTS: Two teeth were extracted in the first month after surgery. PI, GI, CAL and PD scores of the replanted teeth were significantly lower at 6 month (P < 0.0001 for all) and 12 month (P < 0.0001 for all) postoperatively when compared to baseline, but the values were not significantly different from those of the control and adjacent teeth. PTV of the test teeth increased significantly (P < 0.0001) after the intervention and decreased to baseline levels by month 12. PTVs were significantly higher (P < 0.05) at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months in the test teeth when compared with the control teeth, but were not significantly different at month 12. PAI scores of teeth with VRF were significantly lower (P < 0.05) at 12 months compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Adhesive cementation and intentional replantation were an effective treatment modality for this group of vertically fractured maxillary single-rooted teeth. The clinical periodontal parameters decrease by month 6, and the mobility returned to the physiological limits of natural teeth 12 months after replantation.

Low prevalence of growth hormone deficiency in Turkish patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

BACKGROUND: Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (HT) is frequently isolated, but may also be associated with other autoimmune disorders. Autoimmune hypophysitis can result in growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Various prevalences of GHD have been reported in HT in several different ethnic populations. AIM: The aim of this study was assessing the prevalence of GHD in Turkish population with HT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred twenty-seven (208 females and 19 males, mean age 40.1 ± 10.8 years, range 18-64 years) patients with euthyroid HT were included. RESULTS: All patients were euthyroid with or without T4 treatment (median TSH 2.2 mIU/L, range 0.2-4.2 mIU/L; median FT4 15.6 pmol/L, range 12-22 pmol/L; and median FT3 4.5 pmol/L, range 3.0-6.2 pmol/L), and median TPO-Ab was 817 IU/mL (range 63 to >3,000). One hundred and thirty-six of them were using medications including L-thyroxine (59.9 %). Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels of 210 patients (92.5 %) were normal. Glucagon stimulation testing in 17 subjects revealed GHD (peak <3 mcg/L) in two subjects. We then performed insulin tolerance test (ITT) to both of them as the gold standard confirmatory test. One patient had no GH response to ITT, either. Our data reveal the prevalence of GHD (based on low IGF-I and ITT result) in this particular group of Turkish HT patients as 0.4 %. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the isolated GHD is rarely observed in HT in our population. The prevalence of GHD is 0.4 % in this particular group of Turkish HT patients suggesting that routine investigation of GHD is not mandatory.