Alveolar bone expansion for implant placement in compromised aesthetic zone - case series.

Implant placement and restoration of compromised alveolar ridges in the aesthetic zone has always been a challenge to the oral implantologists. The use of bone expanders and bone condensers without the use of traditional drilling sequences in this scenario is becoming popular because of its predictable results. Xenograft along with Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) used as scaffold also provides growth factors to accelerate both soft and hard tissue healing as well as regeneration. The paper highlights this combined approach in the placement of implants in compromised alveolar ridges with good results. All implants were successfully restored and followed up for one year.

Narrow diameter implant in posterior region.

Dental implants placement can sometimes be limited due to physical conditions, wherein the horizontal space is limited by adjacent teeth and roots or situations in which there is narrow alveolar ridge, By using a narrow diameter implant (NDI), the need for bone augmentation can be avoided. In situations where there is limited horizontal space, a NDI may be the only option to replace a missing tooth.

The management of retrograde peri-implantitis: a case report.

Peri-Implantitis is defined as an inflammatory reaction with the loss of the supporting bone in the tissues which surround a functioning implant. The peri-implantitis lesions are often asymptomatic and they are usually detected during the routine recall appointments. Careful probing around the teeth and the implants should be done routinely along with the radiologic evaluation during these check-up appointments. Retrograde peri-implantitis may sometimes prove even more difficult to identify, resulting in the loss of the implant. This paper presents a report of the extensive and the meticulous management of retrograde peri-implantitis and the implant being finally restored to health and the full functional status.

A pilot study of mini implants as a treatment option for prosthetic rehabilitation of ridges with sub-optimal bone volume.

INTRODUCTION: Implants are the latest development in the field of prothodontics, but still not widely used because of its expensive and its lengthier duration. Patients with ideal bone quantity and quality accommodate the conventional implants. The selection of the width of the implants has been widely speculated and the manufacturers have recently launched a series of 'mini' implants of narrower diameter. The long-term success rate of these narrow diameter implants, needs to be assessed. STUDY: This 2 year retrospective study summarizes the recorded observations from 11 patients who received 2.4 mm diameter implants for single tooth restorations. RESULTS: One implant failed 10 months after loading. The success rate was 90.9%. The clinical evaluation of the peri implant mucosa using periodontal indices gave satisfying results for the implant-mucosa interfaces. CONCLUSION: The success rate of the mini implants of 90.9%, is encouraging and hence studies involving larger number patients can be undertaken to study the efficacy of this novel treatment plan.

Placement of endosseous implant in infected alveolar socket with large fenestration defect: A comparative case report.

Placement of endosseous implants into infected bone is often deferred or avoided due to fear of failure. However, with the development of guided bone regeneration [GBR], some implantologists have reported successful implant placement in infected sockets, even those with fenestration defects. We had the opportunity to compare the osseointegration of an immediate implant placed in an infected site associated with a large buccal fenestration created by the removal of a root stump with that of a delayed implant placed 5 years after extraction. Both implants were placed in the same patient, in the same dental quadrant by the same implantologist. GBR was used with the fenestration defect being filled with demineralized bone graft* and covered with collagen membrane**. Both implants were osseointegrated and functional when followed up after 12 months.

Retrograde peri-implantitis.

Retrograde peri-implantitis constitutes an important cause for implant failure. Retrograde peri-implantitis may sometimes prove difficult to identify and hence institution of early treatment may not be possible. This paper presents a report of four cases of (the implant placed developing to) retrograde peri-implantitis. Three of these implants were successfully restored to their fully functional state while one was lost due to extensive damage. The paper highlights the importance of recognizing the etiopathogenic mechanisms, preoperative assessment, and a strong postoperative maintenance protocol to avoid retrograde peri-implant inflammation.

Rehabilitation using single stage implants.

Implant related prosthesis has become an integral part of rehabilitation of edentulous areas. Single stage implant placement has become popular because of its ease of use and fairly predictable results. In this paper, we present a series of cases of single stage implants being used to rehabilitate different clinical situations. All the implants placed have been successfully restored and followed up for up to one year.