Dental Implant Length and Diameter: A Proposed Classification Scheme.

PURPOSE: To propose a length-and-diameter-based classification scheme for dental implants to standardize terminology in the dental literature and communication between interested parties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was mainly based on searching two major resources: published scientific research papers and 14 of the most popular dental implant manufacturers. Indexed databases were searched from January 2004 up to and including February 2016 using the keywords "dental implant length" and "dental implant diameter." Retrieved titles and abstracts were screened, and related full-text articles were reviewed. Full-text articles that clearly stated the terms and measurements of implants used were included and considered for proposing this classification scheme. RESULTS: The initial search for implant diameter and length yielded 1007 and 936 articles, respectively. A total of 85 studies (41 about diameter, 44 about length) were selected and reviewed. The remaining studies (966 about diameter, 892 about length) that did not abide by the eligibility criteria were excluded. The terms "long," "short," "standard," "wide," and "narrow" were the most commonly used terms in the literature. A classification scheme for implants by diameter and length was proposed. CONCLUSIONS: Indexed publications contain a variety of terms used by authors to describe diameter and length of dental implants without conformity and standardization. The classification scheme proposed in this article could serve as a reference for interested parties.

Establishing a classification system and criteria for veneer preparations.

The concept of no- or minimal-preparation veneers is more than 25 years old, yet there is no classification system categorizing the extent of preparation for different veneer treatments. The lack of veneer preparation classifications creates misunderstanding and miscommunication with patients and within the dental profession. Such a system could be indicated in various clinical scenarios and would benefit dentists and patients, providing a guide for conservatively preparing and placing veneers. A classification system is proposed to divide preparation and veneering into reduction--referred to as space requirement, working thickness, or material room--volume of enamel remaining, and percentage of dentin exposed. Using this type of metric provides an accurate measurement system to quantify tooth structure removal, with preferably no reduction, on a case-by-case basis, dissolve uncertainty, and aid with multiple aspects of treatment planning and communication.

A retrospective analysis of replacing dental implants in previously failed sites.

OBJECTIVE: Overall first-year failure rate for dental implants may reach 3%-8% as the result of various complications. Accordingly, reimplantation accounts for an ever-growing portion of clinic's practice. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the survival rate of dental implants that were performed in sites where failed implants were previously removed and to evaluate the factors affecting outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Three certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons inserted 144 implant replacement in previously failed sites in 144 patients (1994-2009). Clinical and epidemiologic data were collected retrospectively and analyzed regarding survival rates. RESULTS: Survival rate of the implants replacing previously failed ones was 93% (133/144). A third placement in the same site was performed in 7 of 11 patients with a survival rate of 85% (6/7) up to the last follow-up. No correlations were found between replaced implant failures with any of the parameters examined. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of the present study, it can be concluded that a previous implant failure should not discourage practitioners from a second or even a third attempt.

Restorative material and other tooth-specific variables associated with the decision to repair or replace defective restorations: findings from The Dental PBRN.

OBJECTIVES: Using data from dentists participating in The Dental Practice-Based Research Network (DPBRN), the study had 2 main objectives: (1) to identify and quantify the types of restorative materials in the existing failed restorations; and (2) to identify and quantify the materials used to repair or replace those failed restorations. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used a consecutive patient/restoration recruitment design. Practitioner-investigators recorded data on consecutive restorations in permanent teeth that needed repair or replacement. Data included the primary reason for repair or replacement, tooth surface(s) involved, restorative materials used, and patient demographics. RESULTS: Data for 9875 restorations were collected from 7502 patients in 197 practices for which 75% of restorations were replaced and 25% repaired. Most of the restorations that were either repaired or replaced were amalgam (56%) for which most (56%) of the material used was direct tooth-coloured. The restorative material was 5 times more likely to be changed when the original restoration was amalgam (OR=5.2, p<.001). The likelihood of changing an amalgam restoration differed as a function of the tooth type (OR=3.0, p<.001), arch (OR=6.6, p<.001); and number of surfaces in the original restoration (OR=12.2, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The probability of changing from amalgam to another restorative material differed with several characteristics of the original restoration. The change was most likely to take place when (1) the treatment was a replacement; (2) the tooth was not a molar; (3) the tooth was in the maxillary arch; and (4) the original restoration involved a single surface.

Classification of extensively damaged teeth to evaluate prognosis.

The restoration of teeth with extensive structural damage is an important clinical procedure in dental practice. However, despite the availability of a variety of materials, techniques and studies in the scientific literature, the criteria for selection of such teeth for restoration need clarification. The approach to severely compromised teeth should be based on consistent scientific evidence to reduce dental error and improve the prognosis. If restoration is indicated, it must conserve and protect the remaining tooth structure. In this article, we develop and suggest clinical criteria and guidelines that clinicians may use to identify and classify extensively damaged teeth to help in the diagnosis, treatment plan and prognosis.

Principal component analysis: a novel analysis to evaluate the characteristics of osseointegration of different implant surfaces.

OBJECTIVE: To apply a new statistical method (principle component analysis; PCA) to evaluate osseointegration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two different commercially available implants were selected for the study. Twenty implants, 10 of each type, were placed in the rabbit tibiae (n = 10). The fluorochromes (FLCs) alizarin complexone and calcein green were administered after 20 days and 4 days before sacrifice for labeling. On the day of implantation and retrieval (6 weeks), implant stability was measured with a resonance frequency analyzer (RFA). The retrieved samples were ground sectioned for histomorphometric and FLC quantification. The collected data were analyzed by a PCA software program (Qlucore Omics Explorer, Lund, Sweden) to explore and determine the correlation between different study variables and to analyze the differences between different implants. RESULTS: The RFA presented no significant differences at either time point. The bone-to-implant contact was significantly higher for the TiUnite (NobelBiocare, Gothenburg, Sweden); however, the bone area and FLC quantification showed higher values for the Osseotite (3i Implant Innovation, FL). Consistent with these results, the PCA indicated a strong correlation between TiUnite and high bone-to-implant contact values and between Osseotite and high bone area and FLC values. No correlation between RFA and the biological responses were found. CONCLUSION: The application of the PCA analysis may help interpret and correlate results obtained from numerous evaluations.

Adaptação das bases de prótese total superior em função de tempos pós-prensagem da resina acrílica / Adaptation of complete maxillary denture bases due to acrilic resin post-pressing time

Este trabalho avaliou a adaptação das bases de prótese total superior confeccionadas com resinas acrílicas ativadas termicamente Clássico, polimerizada em água aquecida a 74°C por nove horas, sob efeitos dos diferentes tempos pós-prensagem. Foram confeccionados modelos de gesso-pedra tipo III e, sobre eles, bases com duas lâminas de cera de 0.9 mm. Após processamento das bases, o conjunto modelo de gesso-base de resina foi seccionado nas regiões de distal de caninos (A), mesial dos primeiros molares (B) e região palatina posterior (C). O nível de adaptação foi mensurado com auxílio de mocroscópio linear STM (Olimpus), com precisão de 0.0005 mm. Os dados, submetidos à análise de variância e ao teste de Tukey (5 por cento), mostraram que o tempo pós-prensagem de 24 horas (T24) produziu níveis médios de desadaptação (0,205 mm) menores e com diferença estatística significativa (p < 0,05) quando comparado ao imediato (T0) (0,257 mm)

Terminology for implant prostheses.

The use of systematic terminology for implant prostheses can simplify communication within the scientific community. However, a review of the current literature demonstrates the lack of uniformity in this field. It is the purpose of this manuscript to suggest uniform terminology based on conventional prosthodontic terms that will simplify communication in the profession.

MANTENEDORES DE ESPACIO TIPO BANDA-ASA

En caso de pérdida de un diente temporario ya sea por extracción indicada o extarcción precoz, es una de las causas más frecuentes de mal posición dentarias permanentes como de perturbaciones en el crecimientode los maxilares, dependiendo de la gravedad con lo prematuro que se ha realizado la extracción o perdida. En la actualidad exiten diferentes métodos y técnicas para la corrección de anomalias, así que cuando se pierda un diente temporario, antes del tiempo en que este deberia ocurrir en condiciones normales y que predisponga al paciente a una mala oclusión, en este caso(pérdida del primer molar temporario); debera colocarse un mantenedor de espacio con el objeto de mantener los espacios dentarios, asi como el equilibrio dentario, funcional, estético y fonético de las piezas dentarias, arco dentario y el maxilar. Es así en este trabajo de tesis pretendemos mostrar las bondades de los llamados mantenedores de espacio tipo BANDA - ASA

Análise da passividade de adaptaçäo de infra-estruturas para prótese fixa implanto-suportada, através do uso de extensômetros / Analysis of the passive adaptation of suprastructures for fixed implant-supported prosthesis, by means of extensometries

A adaptaçäo passiva entre prótese e intermediário é considerada um requisito básico para o sucesso do tratamento protético em implantes osseointegrados, embora nenhuma definiçäo ou parâmetro foi estabelecido para descrever o que constitui uma adaptaçäo passiva. A mensuraçäo da qualidade de adaptaçäo das peças depende de vários fatores, como o método de avaliaçäo, das variáveis laboratoriais e, principalmente, de variáveis dependentes do operador como o aperto dos parafusos de fixaçäo, avaliaçäo clínica e a adaptaçäo propriamente dita dos componentes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a passividade de adaptaçäo de infra-estruturas para prótese sobre implantes, em funçäo de dois tipos de ligas metálicas. Corpos de prova simulando uma situaçäo de prótese total fixa mandibular foram confeccionados em cobalto-cromo e paládio-prata, posicionados sobre um modelo mestre. Extensômetros foram fixados nas faces mesial e distal de cada intermediário para capturar a deformaçäo, quando os parafusos de fixaçäo eram apertados. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos ao teste Mann-Whitney para a análise estatística. Os resultados näo foram estatisticamente diferentes entre si, sendo verificado um nível de passividade similar entre as infra-estruturas fundidas em cobalto-cromo e em paládio-prata. Sugere-se a utilizaçäo de ligas em cobalto-cromo na realizaçäo de pesquisas clínicas