Clinical Assessment of Short Implants Retaining Removable Partial Dentures: 4-year Follow-up.

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate the survival at 1 and 4 years of short implants retaining removable partial dentures (RPDs) in Kennedy Class I and II edentulism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients (Kennedy Class I and II) rehabilitated with RPDs were selected for the insertion of one short implant in the distal edentulous ridge, connected to the RPD with a Locator attachment after osseointegration. The following data were recorded at the 1- and 4-year follow-up: bone loss, bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), implant mobility, and survival. RESULTS: Thirty-five implants were placed from September 2012 to April 2014. At the 4-year follow-up, 12 implants showed BOP, and for PD, 15 implants showed 2 mm, 16 implants showed 3 mm, and 2 implants showed 4 mm. One implant showed mobility, and two were lost (survival rate: 94.3%; 95% CI: 80.84 to 99.30). The mean bone loss was 1.04 ± 1.88 mm. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, the implant survival rate and the mean bone loss values reported are comparable with those reported by other authors. The use of short implants for retaining RPDs may be considered a viable treatment option for patients with distal edentulism and contraindications for more complex implant rehabilitation.

Immediate Loading of Implant-Supported Single Crowns after Conventional and Ultrasonic Implant Site Preparation: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

AIM: To compare implant survival rate and marginal bone loss (MBL) of immediately loaded single implants inserted by using ultrasonic implant site preparation (UISP) (test) and conventional rotary instrumentation (control). METHODS: Two single implants were inserted for each patient: after randomization, test site was prepared by using an ultrasonic device (Piezosurgery Touch, Mectron, Italy) and control site was prepared by using the drills of the selected implant system (Premium AZT, Sweden & Martina, Italy), until reaching a final diameter of 3 mm in both groups. Identical implants (3.8x11.5 mm) were inserted in all sites at crestal level. Impressions were taken and screwed resin single crowns with platform-switched provisional abutments were delivered with 48 hours. Periapical radiographs were taken at provisional crown insertion (T0), 6 months (T1) and one year (T2) after prosthetic loading to measure MBL. All data were tested for normality and subsequently analyzed by paired samples t-test and forward multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were treated in six centers with the insertion of ninety-six implants (48 test; 48 control). Four implants in four patients failed within the first six months of healing (two in test group; two in control group; no difference between groups). Forty patients (age 60.1±10.7 years; 22 female, 18 male) were included in the final analysis. Mean MBL after six months of loading was 1.39±1.03 mm in the test group and 1.42±1.16 mm in the control group (p>0.05) and after one year was 1.92±1.14 mm and 2.14±1.55 mm in test and control, respectively (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No differences in survival rate and MBL were demonstrated between UISP and conventional site preparation with rotary instruments in immediately loaded dental implants: UISP, with its characteristics of enhanced surgical control and safety in proximity of delicate structures, may be used as a reliable alternative to the traditional drilling systems.

Efficacy of a Checklist for Office-Laboratory Communication: A Clinical Study on Quality Outcomes for Single Crowns.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a structured communication protocol between dentists and dental laboratory technicians. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 112 single metal-ceramic crowns, fabricated by four different dentist-dental technician pairs, were evaluated at the clinical try-in appointment. Subsequently, each professional pair produced another 112 crowns using a checklist. RESULTS: The scores showed a statistically significant improvement in clinical outcomes with the use of a checklist by reducing adjustment times for contact area, fit, and occlusion and number of appointments. CONCLUSION: The use of a checklist improved crown quality.

Resin-bonded fixed partial dentures: ten-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the survival rate of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures delivered between 1993 and 2003 in the Department of Prosthodontics of the University of Turin and in several private practices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis took into consideration the following variables: preparations, metallic alloys, metal preparation and conditioning of the inner surfaces, isolation during cementation, type of cement, kind of prostheses, number of abutments, and number of missing teeth included in the prostheses. RESULTS: The estimated survival probability for the first debonding or failure was 85% after 5 years and 71% after 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: The use of dental dam during cementation reduced the risk of debonding. No differences in survival rate were found for the other parameters.