The Long-Term Esthetic and Radiographic Outcome of Implants Placed in the Anterior Maxilla after Ridge Preservation, Combining Bovine Xenograft with Collagen Matrix.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the long-term esthetic and radiographic results of implants placed in the anterior maxilla after ridge preservation, combining bovine xenograft with collagen matrix. Fifteen patients who required a single tooth extraction because of fracture, root resorption, or extended caries were included in the study. After extraction, all sites were grafted using Deproteinized Bovine Bone Mineral (DBBM) with collagen and covered by a resorbable collagen matrix (CM). Five months after socket grafting, implants were successfully installed. The implant diameter range was between 3.8 and 4.2 mm. All patients were monitored for over 7 years, both clinically and radiographically. Three independent observers evaluated the long-term esthetic outcome, employing the Pink Esthetic Score (PES) technique. Over a period exceeding seven years, a 100% survival rate was observed for all 15 implants, with minimal marginal bone loss. The mean PES was 11.40 (±1.44) at the first assessment and 11.38 (±1.63) at the second assessment. The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.978), and the scores of PES measurements indicated excellent esthetic results even after seven years. Based on these preliminary results, it seems that placing collagen bovine bone in a fresh extraction socket, covered with a collagen matrix, can preserve the alveolar ridge and provide long-term stable esthetic results.

Retrieval of displaced implants inside the maxillary sinus: two case reports and a short review.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this paper are to demonstrate two cases of implant migration into the maxillary sinus and to give a short review of the literature on this subject. CLINICAL PROCEDURE: Two patients were diagnosed with implant migration into the maxillary sinus. After thorough radiographic examination which revealed the exact position of the implants inside the maxillary sinus, removal was performed through a bony window in the anterior-lateral aspect of the maxillary sinus for both cases. DISCUSSION: Implant displacement into the maxillary sinus can occur intraoperatively or postoperatively either prior to implant loading or after functional loading. Several actors can lead to this complication differing according to the stage of the displacement. Management of this complication is achieved using four surgical techniques: a. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery, b. intraoral removal by the Caldwell-Luc technique, c. removal through the alveolar bone, d. combination of the last two techniques. If implant displacement into the maxillary sinus remains untreated, it can lead to several complications with various effects. CONCLUSION: Migration of dental implants into the maxillary sinus is a rare but severe complication which must be treated as soon as possible.