Controversies in Implant Surgery

Controversies in the dental implant treatment planning for anterior maxillary aesthetic zone - A review

The anterior maxillary region being an aesthetic zone remains critical in decision-making when it comes to replacing a tooth. Treatment planning to place dental implants in aesthetic zone like anterior maxilla needs paramount attention in order to provide best of the treatment outcomes from aesthetic point of view. As the field of dental implants tend to evolve continuously, newer concepts with inadequate research come into practise on regular basis. In this article, some of the controversies regarding dental implant placement and treatment process related to anterior maxillary aesthetic zone are discussed with literature to support evidence.

Peri-implant bone preservation of a novel, self-cutting, and fully tapered implant in the healed crestal ridge of minipigs: submerged vs. transgingival healing

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of transgingival compared with submerged healing on peri-implant bone maintenance around a novel, fully tapered implant in a healed crestal ridge in minipigs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In each of 12 minipigs, two implants (Straumann® BLX, Roxolid® SLActive®, Ø 3.75 × 8 mm) were placed. Implants were either left for submerged or for transgingival healing for 12 weeks. Measurements performed were bone-to-implant contact (BIC), first bone-to-implant contact (fBIC), bone area to total area (BATA), perpendicular bone crest to implant shoulder (pCIS), bone height change from placement, and bone overgrowth (for submerged implants).

RESULTS

No significant differences were found between transgingival and submerged healing in any of the measured parameters, except for BATA on the buccal aspect in which significantly more bone formation was found for the transgingival healing group. For both groups, there was a gain in crestal bone height during the 12-week healing period.

CONCLUSIONS

Loaded compared with unloaded implants displayed comparable levels of osseointegration and equivalent marginal bone levels. This qualifies the implant placement protocol with respect to the osteotomy dimensions and subcrestal placement protocol for immediate loading.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The here presented results related to osseointegration and crestal bone maintenance after submerged or transgingival healing have demonstrated a high level of consistency in the used in vivo translational model. The obtained results support the translation of the novel implant type in conjunction with the developed surgical workflow and placement protocol into further clinical investigation and use.

Quad Zygoma: Technique and Realities

Four zygomatic implants may be used in patients with severe maxillary atrophy for rehabilitation with a fixed or removable prosthesis. Immediate loading is also typically performed, providing patients with a less invasive and more efficient solution for rehabilitation. Options for immediate loading are presented. The indications, contraindications, procedure, and complications are reviewed. Appropriate treatment planning and work-up are highlighted, as they are required for success in conjunction with advanced surgical skill. Scientific evidence, although lacking in quantity, suggests that the quad zygoma approach offers a predictable solution for the challenge of severe maxillary atrophy; high implant survival rates are noted.

Risk factors in bone augmentation procedures

Bone augmentation is an extremely common procedure in implant dentistry today because of significant advancements with reactive biomaterials, a better understanding of the mechanism of action that is found with growth factors contained in platelets, and improvements in surgical techniques. The expectation is for the surgeon to place the dental implant in the position that best serves the requirements of the prosthetic restorations. With the increasing demands that patients have for ideal prosthetic results, surgeons are expected to predictably augment both hard and soft tissues to provide the anticipated esthetic and functional outcomes. Bone grafting can be performed before, during, and after the implant placement; however, these augmentation procedures come with increased cost, the risk of complications such as infection or failure, and lengthening of the total treatment time. In addition, a plethora of grafting materials are available commercially, where they are often inadequately studied, or there is minimal information regarding their predictability or long-term success, or ability to support dental implants. It is clear that although the surgical field has seen major progress since early implant surgical techniques in the 1980s, major challenges still exist with hard tissue augmentation procedures. This review will discuss these challenges that are increased and often specific to bone graft healing, and which are becoming more common as implant site development often requires bone augmentation to improve volume or contour deficiencies. The risk factors that patients may present with that will affect outcomes with bone augmentation procedures are identified, and recommendations for the prevention of complications or managing complications once they have occurred are provided.