Effect of Splinting of Tilted External Hexagon Implants on 3-Unit Implant-Supported Prostheses in the Posterior Maxilla: A 3D Finite Element Analysis.

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of tilted external hexagon implants and splinted restorations in terms of stress distribution on the bone tissue, implants, and prosthetic screws, using three-dimensional finite element analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six models were used to simulate a posterior maxilla bone block (type IV) from the first premolar to the first molar. Each model included three 4.1-mm-diameter external hexagon implants with varying inclinations (0°, 17°, and 30°) and crown designs (splinted and nonsplinted restorations). The forces applied were as follows: 400 N axially (50 N for each slope of the cusp) and 200 N obliquely (45° only on the buccal slope of the cusp). Stress distribution on the implants and prosthetic screw was evaluated using Von Mises stress, while the maximum principal stress was used to evaluate the stress distribution in the bone tissue. RESULTS: The oblique load increased the stress on all the structures in all the models. Increased inclination of the implants resulted in higher stress concentration in the bone tissue, implants, and prosthetic screws. However, splinted restorations contributed to reduction of the stress for the oblique loading, mainly in the bone tissue and prosthetic screw of the first molar, as the stress was shared between the first and second premolar restorations. CONCLUSIONS: Tilted implants increased proportionally the stress on bone tissue and prosthetic screws of models. Additionally, splinting restorations reduced the stress concentration area in the simulated bone tissue, implants, and prosthetic screws in the first molar, as the stress was shared with the adjacent implants.

Biomechanical effect of an occlusal device for patients with an implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis under parafunctional loading: A 3D finite element analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Whether providing an occlusal device for a patient with bruxism and an implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis leads to improved biomechanics is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this 3D finite element analysis (FEA) study was to evaluate the biomechanical behavior of 3-unit implant-supported prostheses under parafunctional forces with and without an occlusal device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight 3D models consisting of a posterior (type IV) maxillary bone block with 3 external hexagon implants (Ø4.0×7.0 mm) and 3-unit implant-supported prostheses with different crown connections (splinted or unsplinted) and an occlusal device under functional and parafunctional loading were simulated. The abutment screws were evaluated by von Mises stress maps, and the bone tissue by maximum principal stress and microstrain maps by using a finite element software program. RESULTS: An occlusal device improved the biomechanical behavior of the prostheses by reducing stress in the abutment screws and stress and strain in the bone tissue. However, the use of an occlusal device was not sufficiently effective to negate the biomechanical benefit of splinting. CONCLUSIONS: The use of splinted crowns in the posterior maxillary region with an occlusal device was the most effective method of reducing stress in the abutment screws and stress and strain in the bone tissue when parafunction was modeled.

Should the restoration of adjacent implants be splinted or nonsplinted? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The decision to splint or to restore independently generally occurs during the planning stage, when the advantages and disadvantages of each clinical situation are considered based on the proposed treatment. However, clinical evidence to help clinicians make this decision is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the marginal bone loss, implant survival rate, and prosthetic complications of splinted and nonsplinted implant restorations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was designed according to the Cochrane criteria for elaborating a systematic review and meta-analysis and adopted the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. Also, this review was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42017080162). An electronic search in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases was conducted up to November 2017. A specific clinical question was structured according to the population, intervention, comparison, outcome (PICO) approach. The addressed focused question was "Should the restoration of adjacent implants be splinted or nonsplinted?" The meta-analysis was based on the Mantel-Haenszel and inverse variance methods to assess the marginal bone loss, implant survival, and prosthetic complications of splinted and nonsplinted implant restorations. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were selected for qualitative and quantitative analyses. A total of 4215 implants were placed in 2185 patients (splinted, 2768; nonsplinted, 1447); the mean follow-up was 87.8 months (range=12-264 months). Quantitative analysis found no significant differences between splinted and nonsplinted restorations for marginal bone loss. The assessed studies reported that 75 implants failed (3.4%), of which 24 were splinted (99.1% of survival rate) and 51 were nonsplinted (96.5% of survival rate). Quantitative analysis of all studies showed statistically significant higher survival rates for splinted restorations than for nonsplinted restorations. Ceramic chipping, screw loosening, abutment screw breakage, and soft tissue inflammation were reported in the selected studies. The quantitative analysis found no statistically significant difference in the prosthetic complications of splinted and nonsplinted restorations. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this systematic review and meta-analysis, it was concluded that there was no difference in the marginal bone loss and prosthetic complications of splinted and nonsplinted implant restorations; this is especially true for restorations in the posterior region. However, splinted restorations were associated with decreased implant failure.

Post-operative pain after using sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine as irrigation solutions in endodontics: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials.

CONTEXT: Is it possible that the irrigating solutions can have the potential to cause post-operative pain? Unfortunately, the current literature does not provide clear guidance. AIM: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to comprehensively review two different irrigation solutions (sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine) regarding the post-operative pain after endodontic treatment. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study was prepared according to the Cochrane criteria for creating a systematic review and meta-analysis and confirms the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This search was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS and Cochrane Library databases until February 2018 to answer the In [(Population) what is the effect of (Intervention) on (Outcome), compared with (Comparison) Intervention] (PICO) question: could sodium hypochlorite cause more post-operative pain than chlorhexidine in teeth subjected to endodontic treatment? The primary outcome was overall post-operative pain after 24 h. RESULTS: After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, three randomized clinical trials fulfilled the eligibility criteria, and two were subjected to the meta-analysis. There was no difference in post-operative pain between the tested irrigating solutions. CONCLUSIONS: There are few studies published in the current literature; therefore, additional randomized clinical studies are required to on this topic to help clinicians make the best decision concerning treatment.

Biomechanical analysis of different implant-abutments interfaces in different bone types: An in silico analysis.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the stress distribution of bone tissue around implants with different implant-abutment interfaces: platform switching (PSW); external hexagon (EH) and Morse taper (MT) with different diameters (regular: Ø 4 mm and wide: Ø 5 mm), bone types (I-IV) and subjected to axial and oblique load conditions using three-dimensional finite element analysis (3D-FEA). Sixteen 3D models of various configurations were simulated using InVesalius, Rhinoceros 3D 4.0, and SolidWorks 2011 software, and processed using Femap 11.2 and NeiNastran 11.0 programs. Axial and oblique forces of 200 N and 100 N, respectively, applied at the occlusal surface of prostheses. Maximum principal stress values were obtained from the peri-implant cortical bone of each model. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA and Tukey's test for maximum principal stress values. Oblique loading showed higher tensile stress than axial loading (P < 0.001). Wide-diameter implants showed lower stress concentration rather than regular-diameter implants, regardless of both connection and bone type (P < 0.001). Under axial loading, wide-diameter EH implants with regular platforms showed more favorable stress distribution than PSW implants for axial loading (P < 0.001); however, under oblique loading, PSW implants exhibited lower stress concentrations (P < 0.001). Regular-diameter MT implants showed lower stress than EH implants (P < 0.001). Bone type IV showed higher stress in the cortical region than bone types I and II (P < 0.001), but no significant difference when compared with bone type III (P > 0.05). The conclusion drawn from this in silico is that MT implants should be considered for use in situations that preclude the placement of wide-diameter implants, particularly where bone types III and IV are concerned.