Fabrication of complete dentures for an older patient with mobility impairment in three appointments: A dental technique.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical procedures of complete denture set fabrication in three appointments. BACKGROUND: Simplified approaches have proven not to be inferior to conventional ones in terms of quality, patient satisfaction and masticatory ability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patient was a 77-year-old edentulous adult with mobility impairment seeking dental rehabilitation in a small number of appointments due to commuting difficulties. RESULTS: A set of complete dentures was delivered within three appointments. The second appointment was dedicated to set-up trial due to the patient's aesthetic demands. CONCLUSION: Under certain circumstances and after a thorough study of each case, dental clinicians may propose the fabrication of complete dentures in a three-appointment protocol incorporating a set-up trial session.

Incorporation of the Altered Cast Technique in the Fabrication Workflow of an Implant-Assisted Removable Partial Denture (IARPD) for an Elderly Patient.

Implants are currently used to serve as abutments for implant-assisted removable partial dentures (IARPDs) to facilitate retention and support of the prosthesis. Implants are proposed in cases of posterior edentulous areas to convert Kennedy Class I or II to Class III or when the preparation of existing teeth to serve as abutments is contraindicated. The purpose of this report is to describe the protocol applied to fabricate an IARPD to restore a Kennedy Class II mandible of an elderly patient by incorporating traditional methods, such as the altered cast technique. Each step of the clinical procedure is thoroughly illustrated to document the selected appointment sequence. The patient was satisfied with the delivered prosthesis that demanded no additional implants to be placed but exploitation of an existing one. IARPDs are a viable and cost-effective solution substantiated by numerous reports with positive effects on patient satisfaction.

Evaluation of the marginal fit of lithium disilicate single crowns fabricated with the conventional (Emax press) and the CAD/CAM (Emax CAD) method: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the marginal adaptation of single unit full coverage lithium disilicate fixed dental restorations fabricated with the conventional heat pressed technique and the digital CAD/CAM workflow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analyses (PRISMA) statement. study research was conducted in MEDLINE via PubMed and Cochrane Library databases together with a hand search of studies published until June 2022. The search terms were combining suitable Medical Subject Headings (MeSH terms) together with free text words in single or multiple conjunctions. A modified methodological index was used to assess the risk of bias of the included studies. A random effect model was applied to pool the effect estimates, and further assessment of the heterogeneity across studies using the Q test and the I2 metric was conducted. All statistical analyses were performed using Rstudio software, version 4.1.2, using the "meta" package. RESULTS: The electronic search and hand search identified 51 articles. Eighteen met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review, 17 of which were in vitro and only one was an in vivo study. However, 17 of the initial 18 could be included in the meta-analysis, due to lack of statistical data in one of the in vitro studies. Statistical analyses were conducted by using the Rstudio software program. Meta-analysis was performed with the random effects model (α=.05). No statistical difference was found between the two fabrication methods (p-value=0.49). CONCLUSIONS: Although the mean marginal adaptation of lithium disilicate single crowns was found to be better with the heat-pressed technique, there was no statistical significance with the CAD/CAM fabricated restorations and both resulted in a clinically acceptable result. Nonetheless, more clinical studies are needed for safer conclusions.

Characteristics of intraoral scan bodies and their influence on impression accuracy: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the influence of the characteristics of intraoral scan bodies (ISBs) on the accuracy of intraoral scanning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search was conducted through PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus and Cochrane Library, up to March 2023. The literature search intended to retrieve all relevant clinical and in vitro studies about the effect that the various properties of ISBs may have on the accuracy (trueness and precision) of intraoral scanning. Only publications in English language were selected with animal studies, case reports, case series, technique presentation articles and expert opinions being excluded. RESULTS: A total of 28 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. They were published between 2019 and 2023 and were all in vitro studies. Among the parameters described, the scan body material, position, geometry, height, diameter, and fixation torque were evaluated. The most common materials used for ISBs were polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and titanium alloys. The diameter and position of ISBs seemed to affect the trueness of implant impressions. Subgingival implant position and decreased ISB height affected negatively the trueness of scanning. Geometrical characteristics of ISBs also affect the implant impression accuracy, especially the bevel location and the types of designing modifications. CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics of the currently used ISBs vary widely and the available scientific evidence is not yet conclusive about the optimal design of ISB. The implant impression accuracy achieved by any of the studied parameters is encouraging. Clinical studies are however necessary for more concrete conclusions. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: ISBs play a vital role in the digital workflow and influence significantly the accuracy and fit of implant restorations. More clinical trials are needed in order to conclude to the optimal characteristics of ISBs which would further enhance the success of the restorations.

Impact of maxillofacial growth on implants placed in adults: A narrative review.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of lifetime maxillofacial changes on dental implants placed in adults, analyze the clinical implications of these changes, identify prognostic factors, and offer possible solutions. OVERVIEW: The relationship between implant placement and maxillofacial changes, occurring during not only the active growth period but also the entire span of adulthood, has not been extensively examined. Vertical differences between implants and adjacent teeth due to the ankylotic behavior of the former might be observed at any age and endanger restoration biologically, functionally, and esthetically. Regarding interproximal contacts, firm contact loss may occur within a few months after restoration, resulting in food impaction. Many prognostic factors have been reported, but most do not exhibit a statistically significant association with implant infraocclusion and interproximal contact loss. Incorporation of alternative solutions, accurate treatment planning, strict recall protocols, and retrievability of implant-supported restorations can facilitate efficient management of complications. CONCLUSION: Maxillomandibular changes throughout adulthood may lead to complications such as implant infraocclusion and interproximal contact loss. Rehabilitation of edentulism should be characterized by well-designed and flexible treatment plans to resolve long-term complications efficiently. Further long-term clinical studies are needed to identify other risk factors. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Treatment plans for implant therapy should be reconsidered for adults. Careful patient monitoring and early intervention are essential for securing treatment outcomes.

Can we measure patients' perception during dental impressions? The Burdens in Dental Impression-Making Questionnaire - BiDIM-Q.

PURPOSE: To develop a reliable and valid instrument for the comprehensive assessment of patients' burdens during dental impression making, the Burdens in Dental Impression Making Questionnaire, BiDIM-Q. MATERIALS: The item pool was generated in a convenience sample of 20 prosthodontic patients using semi-structured face-to-face interviews. The final instrument was tested in 145 consecutively recruited patients, and psychometric properties of the BiDIM-Q were determined. Four different impression materials were used according to the manufacturers' instructions and indications: alginate, c-silicone, polyvinylsiloxane, and polyether. RESULTS: The final BiDIM-Q consisting of 12 items showed sufficient reliability, indicated by Cronbach's alpha of .82 and an average inter-item correlation of .29. Validity was supported by Pearson correlation coefficients for the correlation between the instrument's total score with the patients' overall satisfaction rating (r=.63), and by the correlation matrix for the correlations of the patients' perceptions with the practitioners' satisfaction ratings. Overall, patient perceived burdens were low with highest burdens observed when using polyether in partially dentate patients for pick-up impressions, while lowest burdens were reported when using c-silicone for impressions of edentulous jaws. CONCLUSION: The BiDIM-Q is a reliable and valid tool for assessing patient-based process-related quality of care in dentistry allowing a deeper insight into patients' perspective during dental impression making.

Surgical and prosthetic dental rehabilitation through a complete digital workflow - A case report.

Several aspects of digital dentistry have recently been improved, including new materials, navigated implant placement, digital impression in combination with virtual articulation, and the computer-aided processes of designing and manufacturing of prosthetic restorations. In this case report, the prosthodontic treatment of a patient through a complete digital workflow is presented. A 39-year-old male patient presented for restoration of missing teeth in the posterior maxilla and mandible. In a single-tooth narrow gap (region 15), a Straumann NNC implant was placed by computer-assisted planning and navigation. For the rest of the missing teeth, ZrO2 fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) were manufactured by a computer-aided design/computer- aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) system after optical impression with an intraoral scanner (iTero), and data transferal to a virtual articulator (Ceramill Artex). Rehabilitation through a complete digital workflow is a promising technology in terms of accuracy, reduced workload, greater control over the final product, and minimally invasive procedures. These advantages may have a potential positive effect with regard to patient satisfaction compared with conventional methods.

A Case Series Treatment Outcome Report Following 5 Years of Implant Overdenture Treatment.

PURPOSE: To assess clinical performance of bar-retained implant overdentures (IOs) with distally placed ERA attachments on four implants, and patient satisfaction after a follow-up period of 5 years in a convenience selection of 15 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bar-retained IOs with distally placed ERA attachments were placed and clinically monitored. Encountered complications during a 5-year follow-up period were recorded; and a modified OHIP-14 questionnaire was used to assess patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Implant and restoration survival rates of 97.5% and 100%, respectively, were recorded. The most common maintenance requirement was the replacement of ERA retentive elements. A high degree of patient satisfaction was reported. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed IO design is a reliable clinical treatment protocol associated with a high degree of patient satisfaction and minor prosthetic complications.

Evaluation of the marginal fit of single-unit, complete-coverage ceramic restorations fabricated after digital and conventional impressions: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: In existing published reports, some studies indicate the superiority of digital impression systems in terms of the marginal accuracy of ceramic restorations, whereas others show that the conventional method provides restorations with better marginal fit than fully digital fabrication. Which impression method provides the lowest mean values for marginal adaptation is inconclusive. The findings from those studies cannot be easily generalized, and in vivo studies that could provide valid and meaningful information are limited in the existing publications. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to systematically review existing reports and evaluate the marginal fit of ceramic single-tooth restorations after either digital or conventional impression methods by combining the available evidence in a meta-analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The search strategy for this systematic review of the publications was based on a Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) framework. For the statistical analysis, the mean marginal fit values of each study were extracted and categorized according to the impression method to calculate the mean value, together with the 95% confidence intervals (CI) of each category, and to evaluate the impact of each impression method on the marginal adaptation by comparing digital and conventional techniques separately for in vitro and in vivo studies. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included in the meta-analysis from the 63 identified records after database searching. For the in vitro studies, where ceramic restorations were fabricated after conventional impressions, the mean value of the marginal fit was 58.9 µm (95% CI: 41.1-76.7 µm), whereas after digital impressions, it was 63.3 µm (95% CI: 50.5-76.0 µm). In the in vivo studies, the mean marginal discrepancy of the restorations after digital impressions was 56.1 µm (95% CI: 46.3-65.8 µm), whereas after conventional impressions, it was 79.2 µm (95% CI: 59.6-98.9 µm) CONCLUSION: No significant difference was observed regarding the marginal discrepancy of single-unit ceramic restorations fabricated after digital or conventional impressions.