Evaluation of extra-narrow diameter implants in the oral rehabilitation of young patients after oral trauma: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Oral trauma is a common event in young patients and can lead to tooth loss, especially after avulsion of a tooth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival, esthetic outcomes, ridge preservation, and patient satisfaction of extra-narrow diameter implants (NDIs) as a temporary rehabilitation treatment for young patients who had lost permanent maxillary incisors after an avulsion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study comprised a prospective clinical and experimental study on a case series of 13 patients (age: 10-14 years) with a history of avulsion of one or more maxillary incisors. The patients received 19 mini-drive locks implants (Intralock) with acrylic resin crowns, divided into two evaluation arms: immediate implant placement (n = 10) and delayed implant placement (n = 9). The cases were followed up every 3 months with an initial tomography (T0) before implant placement and after 1 year (T1). The clinical stability of the implant in the bone and the retention of the provisional implant crown were evaluated, and the esthetic index was calculated at each follow-up. Intragroup and intergroup differences in alveolar ridge height and thickness were compared at T0 and T1, and a questionnaire was administered to assess the patient's perception of the treatment. RESULTS: The implant survival rate after 1 year was 78.9%. Alveolar ridge height and thickness increased in all cases at T1 (p < .05). Patients who received immediate implants had greater initial and final alveolar ridge thickness. The esthetic index progressively increased over the investigated time period (p = .001). Only one female patient presented with crown infraocclusion after 1 year. The patients' esthetic perceptions of their smiles significantly improved after treatment (p = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Extra-NDI had good survival rates, were effective at maintaining alveolar bone, and promoted aesthetic recovery and patient satisfaction with treatment during the period studied.

Effects of low-level laser therapy on bone regeneration of the midpalatal suture after rapid maxillary expansion.

This study evaluated the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on bone regeneration at the midpalatal suture (MPS) after rapid maxillary expansion (RME), using cone beam computed tomography. Fourteen 8-14-year-old patients with transverse maxillary deficiency underwent RME with a Hyrax-type expander activated with one full turn after installation and two half turn daily activations until achieving overcorrection. Patients were randomly assigned to either a control group (RME alone, n = 4) or an experimental group (n = 10) in which RME was followed by 12 LLLT sessions (GaAlAs, p = 70 mW, λ = 780 nm, Ø = 0.04 cm(2)). Two tomographic images of the MPS were obtained-T0, after disjunction and T1, after 4 months. Bone regeneration was evaluated by measuring the optical density (OD) on the tomographic images using InVivo Dental 5.0 software. Data were analyzed by the paired Student's t test (α = 0.05 %). A statistically significant difference between T0 and T1 OD values was observed in the laser-treated group (p = 0.00), but this difference was not significant in the control group (p = 0.20). Intergroup comparison of OD values at T1 revealed higher OD in the laser-treated group (p = 0.05). In conclusion, LLLT had a positive influence on bone regeneration of the midpalatal suture by accelerating the repair process.