Combined Implant and Tooth Support: An Up-to-Date Comprehensive Overview

Long-Term Success in Dental Implant Revisions: A 31-Year Case Study of Alveolar Atrophy Management in an Elderly Woman

BACKGROUND In the early 1980s, Brånemark described the use of cylindrical titanium dental implants integrated with bone. Since then, significant advances in dental implant technology have resulted in improved function and cosmetic appearance. This report describes an 87-year-old woman with a 31-year history of revision implant dentistry, initially for severe alveolar atrophy of the premolar and upper molar teeth. CASE REPORT In 1992, a severe alveolar atrophy of the upper premolar and molar areas was treated with the insertion of 4 fixtures in the frontal sector and a prosthesis superimposed anchored to the fixtures and with a rear support on the only surviving teeth. In 2004, the teeth were extracted and a distal support to the prosthesis was obtained with 2 fixtures in the maxillary tuberosity. In 2018, to eliminate the need for home removal of the prosthesis, 2 zygomatic fixtures were positioned and a fixed prosthesis was made. In 2023, at the last follow-up, satisfactory function and aesthetics of the prosthesis were reported and the bone levels at the fixtures appeared stable. CONCLUSIONS This report demonstrates the improvements in dental implant technology over more than 30 years in a single patient and highlights the importance of improved function and cosmetic appearance.

Accuracy of the novel digital non-cross-arch surgical guides with integration of tooth undercut retention and screw-bone support for implant placement in mandibular free-end

BACKGROUND

Large cross-arch free-end surgical guides can obscure the visual field, compromising surgical accuracy due to insufficient stability at the free-end. This in vitro study aims to evaluate the accuracy of novel digital non-cross-arch surgical guides designed for implant placement at the mandibular free-end, incorporating tooth undercut retention and screw-bone support.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A mandibular dental model lacking left molars was utilized to fabricate unilateral (cross-arch) tooth-supported surgical guides (GT I, n = 20). Subsequently, two additional types of surgical guides were fabricated: GT II (covering two teeth, n = 20) and GT III (covering three teeth, n = 20). These novel surgical guides were designed to utilize the undercut of the supporting teeth for retention and enhance stability with screw-bone support at the guide's free-end. Furthermore, 60 identical guiding blocks were assembled on the three types of surgical guides to facilitate the implants' insertion. On a phantom head, 120 implant replicas were placed at the Federal Dentaire Internationale (FDI) teeth positions #36 and #37 on the dental model, employing a combination of surgical guides and guiding blocks. To assess accuracy, planned and placed implant positions were compared using intraoral optical scanning. Discrepancies in angulation and linear deviations, including the coronal/apical 3D deviations, lateral deviation as well as depth deviation, were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni test (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

GT I exhibited significantly largest discrepancies, including angular and linear deviations at the crest and apex at every implant site. Especially in depth, at implant site #36, the mean deviation value of GT I (0.27 ± 0.13 mm) was twice as large as GT III (0.13 ± 0.07 mm), and almost twice as large as GT II (0.14 ± 0.08 mm). However, at implant site #37, this deviation increased to almost a five-fold relationship between GT I (0.63 ± 0.12 mm) and II (0.14 ± 0.09 mm), as well as between GT I and III (0.13 ± 0.09 mm). No significant discrepancies existed between the novel surgical guides at either implant site #36 or #37.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a practical protocol for enhancing accuracy of implant placement and reducing the size of free-end surgical guides used at mandibular molar sites.

Comparative biomechanics of all-on-4 and vertical implant placement in asymmetrical mandibular: a finite element study

BACKGROUND

Clinical scenarios frequently present challenges when patients exhibit asymmetrical mandibular atrophy. The dilemma arises: should we adhere to the conventional All-on-4 technique, or should we contemplate placing vertically oriented implants on the side with sufficient bone mass? This study aims to employ three-dimensional finite element analysis to simulate and explore the biomechanical advantages of each approach.

METHODS

A finite element model, derived from computed tomography (CT) data, was utilized to simulate the nonhomogeneous features of the mandible. Three configurations-All-on-4, All-on-5-v and All-on-5-o were studied. Vertical and oblique forces of 200 N were applied unilaterally, and vertical force of 100 N was applied anteriorly to simulate different masticatory mechanisms. The maximum von Mises stresses on the implant and framework were recorded, as well as the maximum equivalent strain in the peri-implant bone.

RESULTS

The maximum stress values for all designs were located at the neck of the distal implant, and the maximum strains in the bone tissue were located around the distal implant. The All-on-5-o and All-on-5-v models exhibited reduced stresses and strains compared to All-on-4, highlighting the potential benefits of the additional implant. There were no considerable differences in stresses and strains between the All-on-5-o and All-on-5-v groups.

CONCLUSIONS

With the presence of adequate bone volume on one side and severe atrophy of the contralateral bone, while the "All-on-4 concept" is a viable approach, vertical implant placement optimizes the transfer of forces between components and tissues.

Evaluation and assessment of the survival of tooth implant supported prosthesis in tooth and implant supported rehabilitation cases with metal frameworks

INTRODUCTION

Over the years, implant therapy has been a commonly used treatment option for individuals who are partially or totally edentulous, with a long-term success rate of over 90%. With significant advancements in biomaterials and technology, implant dentistry can now conduct prosthetic rehabilitations in the majority of patients catering to all types of needs. However, in order to meet the demands of a patient base that is always growing, new trends in implantology are emerging in recent years that are focused on minimally invasive surgery and financial sustainability. In certain clinical scenarios, connecting teeth and implants to support fixed partial prosthesis (FPPs) may be a predictable and workable course of treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

22 patients were selected for this study who had tooth and implant supported prosthesis placed as a final restoration. Out of these 22 patients; 12 were male and 10 were female patients. Implants were placed following proper protocol and if grafting procedures were required they were carried out. A second stage surgical procedure was carried out and delayed loading protocols were followed. The statistical analysis was done using the IBM SPSS 24.0, Chicago, USA. The survival of the implants and teeth were measured by the Kaplan Meier survival scale. Bone loss was assessed at baseline(upon loading), 12 months and 24 months.

RESULTS

The implant survival rate was measured at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and 24 months. At 24 months, one implant showed failure, so the survival rate of the implants were 95.4%. Bone loss of 1 mm was seen around one implant at 12 months. Bone loss of 1 and 2 mm was present around two implants and one implant respectively at 24 months.

CONCLUSION

From the results of this study, we can conclude that tooth implant supported prosthesis show very good survival when used in rehabilitation cases.

The influence of guide stabilizers and their application sequences on trueness and precision of surgical guides in free end situations: An in vitro analysis

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the impact of guide stabilizers and their application sequences on implant placement accuracy of guided implant surgery in multiple teeth loss at free end.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, 96 implants were placed in the regions of #34, #36, and #37 of 32 identical mandibular models. The influence of using guide stabilizers or not (group A and group B) and various guide stabilizers application sequences (group B: #34 → #36 → #37; group C: #36 → #34 → #37; group D: #37 → #34 → #36) on implant placement trueness and precision was investigated. Data were analyzed using T-tests and one-way ANOVA.

RESULTS

Group B showed significant benefits in enhancing implant placement precision. Compared to group A, it resulted in reducing 3D-deviation at crest and 2D deviation in vestibular-oral direction at both crest and apex. Furthermore, group D demonstrated greater improvement in global implant placement precision by reducing 2D deviation in mesial-distal direction at both crest and apex. Among the three different stabilizer application sequences, group D exhibited the highest level of implant placement precision.

CONCLUSIONS

In cases of missing teeth at distal free end, the use of guide stabilizers and their application sequences does not have a significant impact on implant placement trueness. However, they do improve implant placement precision compared to methods that do not utilize guide stabilizers. Specifically, applying a guide stabilizer first at the furthest implant site to change teeth loss classification from free end to edentulous space with posterior support is the most reliable sequence.

Beyond Tradition: Non-surgical Endodontics and Vital Pulp Therapy as a Dynamic Combination

Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and apical periodontitis in mature permanent teeth present challenges in their management. Traditional treatment approaches, such as root canal therapy or tooth extraction, may compromise tooth structure and oral function. This review article explores the combination of non-surgical endodontic treatment and vital pulp therapy as an alternative approach for these conditions. The purpose is to examine this combined approach's effectiveness, benefits, challenges, and limitations. The objectives include reviewing the literature, evaluating clinical outcomes, discussing potential benefits, and providing recommendations for clinical practice. The combination approach aims to preserve tooth structure, promote healing, and reduce postoperative complications. The article discusses the rationale for combining the two techniques, presents evidence supporting their efficacy, and outlines the techniques and protocols involved. Clinical outcomes, case studies, potential challenges, and comparative analysis with traditional approaches are also explored. Future directions and research recommendations highlight areas for further investigation, innovations, and the development of clinical guidelines. In conclusion, the combination of non-surgical endodontic treatment and vital pulp therapy offers a valuable strategy for managing mature permanent mandibular molars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and apical periodontitis. Further research and advancements are needed to refine the treatment protocol and expand the evidence base, and clinicians should stay updated to provide optimal care and improve patient outcomes.

Investigating the Effect of Nonrigid Connectors on the Success of Tooth-and-Implant-Supported Fixed Partial Prostheses in Maxillary Anterior Region: A Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Objective

This study was designed to assess the effect of nonrigid connectors (NRCs) and their location in the success of tooth-and-implant-supported fixed prostheses in the maxillary anterior region by finite element analysis (FEA).

Materials and Methods

Three 3D FEA models were designed, presuming maxillary lateral incisor and canine to be extracted. Implant (replacing canine), abutment, bone (spongious and cortical), central incisor (containing dentin, root cement, gutta-percha, and casting post and core), periodontal ligament, and three three-unit cemented PFM prostheses (a rigid one and two nonrigid) were modeled. The NRC was once in the tooth side and once in the implant side. The prostheses were loaded twice: 250N to the incisal edges (0° to the long axis) and 200 N to the cingula (45° to the long axis). The von-Mises stress and vertical displacement were analyzed.

Results

Under both vertical and oblique loadings, the rigid model presented the highest stress. Under vertical loading, the NRC caused a significant decrease in the applied stress to the prosthesis, bone, implant, and tooth. Locating the NRC in the tooth side decreased the applied stress to the prosthesis and NRC. Under oblique loading, prosthesis and implant tolerated less stress in the presence of an NRC. Placing the NRC in the tooth side resulted in the least stress in all of the components except for porcelain and patrix. Vertical displacement of the tooth apex was approximately equal in all models.

Conclusion

Using an NRC on the tooth side is the most efficient method in reducing the applied stress to prosthesis, implant, tooth, and bone. The amount of intrusion is not dependent on using an NRC or not.

Microstructured Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel for Tooth Germ Bioengineering

Tooth loss has been found to adversely affect not just masticatory and speech functions, but also psychological health and quality of life. Currently, teeth replacement options include dentures, bridges, and implants. However, these artificial replacement options remain inferior to biological replacements due to their reduced efficiency, the need for replacements, and the risk of immunological rejection. To this end, there has been a heightened interest in the bioengineering of teeth in recent years. While there have been reports of successfully regenerated teeth, controlling the size and shape of bioengineered teeth remains a challenge. In this study, methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MeHA) was synthesized and microstructured in a hydrogel microwell array using soft lithography. The resulting MeHA hydrogel microwell scaffold resembles the shape of a naturally developing human tooth germ. To facilitate the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, human adult low calcium high temperature (HaCaT) cells were seeded on the surface of the hydrogels and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) were encapsulated inside the hydrogels. It was found that hydrogel scaffolds were able to preserve the viability of both types of cells and they appeared to favor signaling between epithelial and mesenchymal cells, which is necessary in the promotion of cell proliferation. As such, the hydrogel scaffolds offer a promising system for the bioengineering of human tooth germs in vitro.

Number of dental abutments influencing the biomechanical behavior of tooth‒implant-supported fixed partial dentures: A finite element analysis

Background. Local or systemic issues might prevent installing a sufficient number of dental implants for fixed prosthetic rehabilitation. Splinting dental implants and natural teeth in fixed dentures could overcome such limitations. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of the number of dental abutments in the biomechanics of tooth‒implant-supported fixed partial dentures (FPDs). The null hypothesis was that increasing the number of abutment teeth would not decrease the stress over the abutments and surrounding bone. Methods. Left mandibular lateral incisor, canine, premolars, and molars were reconstructed through computed tomography and edited using image processing software to represent a cemented fixed metal‒ceramic partial denture. Three models were set to reduce the number of abutment teeth: 1) lateral incisor, canine, and first premolar; 2) canine and first premolar; 3) the first premolar. The second premolar and first molar were set as pontics, and the second molar was set as an implant abutment in all the models. Finite element analyses were performed under physiologic masticatory forces with axial and oblique loading vectors. Results. After simulation of axial loads, the stress peaks on the bone around the implant, the bone around the first premolar, and prosthetic structures did not exhibit significant changes when the number of abutment teeth decreased. However, under oblique loads, decreasing the number of abutment teeth increased stress peaks on the surrounding bone and denture. Conclusion. Increasing the number of dental abutments in tooth‒implant-supported cemented FPD models decreased stresses on its constituents, favoring the prosthetic biomechanics.

Effects of supporting conditions and anchor microscrew on the stabilization of the implant guide template during the drilling process: An in vitro study

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Implant placement errors have been reported in guided surgeries because of movement of the guide template during implant placement. With a completely limiting guide design with high restrictions, guide template stabilization is essential to minimize mobility during the drilling process.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of supporting conditions and the use of an anchor microscrew on the seating and functional stabilization of a computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) implant surgical guide with a completely limiting design.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twelve implant surgical guide templates were fabricated under different supporting conditions: tooth-mucosa, tooth-tooth, tooth-screw, and screw-screw (n=3 per group). In the tooth-screw and screw-screw groups, anchor microscrews and anchor caps were used to fix the guide templates. The seating stability of the templates was evaluated by using a micromovement assessment. The functional stability of the templates was analyzed during the drilling process by using a motion tracking method. One-way analysis of variance and the Tukey HSD post hoc test were conducted to compare the differences among the groups (α=.05).

RESULTS

The tooth-tooth, tooth-screw, and screw-screw groups exhibited similar seating stability, which was significantly more stable than that of the tooth-mucosa group (P<.001). In terms of functional stability, the tooth-mucosa group reported the highest positional deviation and motion magnitude, whereas low values were found in the tooth-screw and screw-screw groups (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of anchor microscrews can increase the seating and functional stability of CAD-CAM guide templates during the drilling process for implant placement.

New Dental Implant with 3D Shock Absorbers and Tooth-Like Mobility-Prototype Development, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and Mechanical Testing

Background: Once inserted and osseointegrated, dental implants become ankylosed, which makes them immobile with respect to the alveolar bone. The present paper describes the development of a new and original implant design which replicates the 3D physiological mobility of natural teeth. The first phase of the test followed the resistance of the implant to mechanical stress as well as the behavior of the surrounding bone. Modifications to the design were made after the first set of results. In the second stage, mechanical tests in conjunction with finite element analysis were performed to test the improved implant design. Methods: In order to test the new concept, 6 titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) implants were produced (milling). The implants were fitted into the dynamic testing device. The initial mobility was measured for each implant as well as their mobility after several test cycles. In the second stage, 10 implants with the modified design were produced. The testing protocol included mechanical testing and finite element analysis. Results: The initial testing protocol was applied almost entirely successfully. Premature fracturing of some implants and fitting blocks occurred and the testing protocol was readjusted. The issues in the initial test helped design the final testing protocol and the new implants with improved mechanical performance. Conclusion: The new prototype proved the efficiency of the concept. The initial tests pointed out the need for design improvement and the following tests validated the concept.

Survival rates and complication behaviour of tooth implant-supported, fixed dental prostheses: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the survival and complication rates of tooth-implant supported fixed dental prostheses (T-I FDPs).

SOURCES

An electronic search in MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase was conducted using MeSH terms to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or prospective studies with an observation period of at least 3 years, including at least 10 participants.

STUDY SELECTION

Included studies were qualitatively assessed. Survival rates of T-I FDPs and implants as well as technical and biological complications were obtained. Failure and complication rates were pooled by weighting each rate in inverse proportion to its variance.

DATA

A total of eight studies were considered for qualitative analysis; seven studies with a minimum follow-up of five years were included for quantitative analysis. Estimated survival rates of T-I FDPs were 90.8% (95% CI: 86.4-93.8%) after five years and 82.5% (95% CI: 74.7-88.0%) after 10 years. Implant survival estimates were 94.8% (90.9-97.0%) and 89.8% (82.7-99.4%) after 5 and 10 years, respectively. From a total of 185 T-I FDPs, 21 (11.4%) minor and 23 (12.4%) major biological complications were observed, whereas 23 (12.4%) minor and three (1.6%) major technical complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the lack of well-designed studies exceeding a 10-year follow-up, prognosis for the long -term can hardly be given. Considering the inclusion criteria of this systematic review, T-I FDP-supported fixed dental prostheses show acceptable survival rates after five and 10 years. Rigidly constructed T-I FDPs should be preferred. With regard to the available data, these conclusions are valid only for three- to four-unit T-I FDPs.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Tooth-implant supported fixed dental prostheses are a recommendable treatment option in partial dentition. Based on the current literature, they should be rigidly constructed with a maximum number of four units.