Mini-implants: new possibilities in interdisciplinary treatment approaches

[General strategy for the development of dental laboratories with CAD/CAM systems]

The need for the practice of dentistry in the digital (CAD/CAM) technologies have initiated the emergence of dental laboratories as a separate and independent legal entities. The choice of a strategy for the development of these laboratories is aimed at ensuring the achievement of the main goals in the long term. It is established that the type of innovation in terms of 'Shake test' J. Daya, in these organizations can be designated as an option 'C' - a strategy of gradual conquest of the market. The main components of the development are: work with staff, information support, financial optimization; material and technical support, marketing activities, organizational and legal support, the formation of the quality system.

Contact of the incisive canal and upper central incisors causing root resorption after retraction with orthodontic mini-implants: A CBCT study

OBJECTIVES

To explore risk factors for contact between the incisive canal (IC) and upper central incisors (U1) and to evaluate the relationship between contact and root resorption using cone-beam computer tomography (CBCT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study used CBCT data of 33 patients treated by a senior orthodontist. Anterior teeth were retracted with mini-implants, and CBCT scans were taken before and after retraction. IC height and width, U1 lingual movement, and U1-IC distance and root length decrease were compared between contact and noncontact groups.

RESULTS

Sixteen U1 roots in 11 patients touched the IC. The contact group had lower positioned ICs (2.86 ± 1.10 mm) than the noncontact group (4.07 ± 1.72 mm). The middle of the U1 roots showed more lingual movement to ICs in the contact group (2.30 ± 1.20 mm) than in the noncontact group (1.07 ± 1.16 mm). Right central incisors were closer to the IC than were the left. Root length decreased significantly more in the contact group (2.63 ± 0.93 mm) than in the noncontact group (1.14 ± 0.83 mm).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a risk for the U1 root to contact the IC during anterior retraction when the IC is lower positioned. This contact might cause external apical root resorption.

Magnet-Retained Two-Mini-Implant Overdenture: Clinical and Mechanical Consideration

Two-implant overdentures have become the accepted treatment for restoring mandibular edentulism. The dimensions of regular implants sometimes limit their use, such as in the case of narrow ridges. Mini-implants with reduced diameters (less than 3.0 mm) enable insertion into narrow ridges. A magnet-retained two-mini-implant overdenture system was developed and is described in this paper. Additionally, we describe a clinical mandibular procedure using the system and evaluate its biomechanical performance.

A Mini-review on the Effect of Mini-implants on Contemporary Orthodontic Science

The purpose of this literature review was to screen the valuable published articles regarding to the impacts of mini-implants on orthodontic science, briefly. The searching category was performed on the Pubmed using MeSH words such as "dental (mini) implants, orthodontic anchorage procedures, and orthodontic appliances." After preliminary sketch, they were grouped as follow: Those evaluating (a) common appliances for providing orthodontic anchorage, (b) biomechanical details of mini-implants and their insertion, (c) clinical application of mini-implants for orthognathic treatments, (d) limitations and possible complications. In conclusion, mini-implant evolved the orthodontic treatment plans and compromised the required orthognathic surgery. Malocclusion treatment and pure orthodontic or orthopedic movements in the three-dimensions have become recently possible by using mini-implant to provide skeletal anchorage.