Esthetic Rehabilitation of Maxillary Anterior Teeth, Including an Immediate Provisionalization with an Implant-Supported Fixed Dental Prosthesis

Analysis of Soft Tissue Changes and Influencing Factors of Implant Absorption after Immediate Restoration of Anterior Teeth

Objective

Using a digital model, evaluate the changes in the soft tissue following rapid restoration of anterior teeth and analyze the factors impacting implant absorption.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on 84 patients who received immediate implant restoration for a single anterior tooth in the department of Stomatology of our hospital from April 2020 to August 2021. According to different surgical methods, they were divided into the study group (n = 42) and control group (n = 42). Immediate implant repair was given to the research group, while delayed implant restoration was given to the control group. The influence of the two surgical techniques on the alterations of soft tissues around implants was studied using a 3Shape oral scan and a digital model before and 1, 3, and 5 months after the operation, respectively. Patients in the study group were divided into the excellent group (n = 26) and poor group (n = 16) according to the test results of implant bone absorption, and the risk factors of poor implant absorption after immediate restoration of anterior teeth were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

The levels of 1 mm and 3 mm below the gum mucosa margin in the two groups increased gradually with the time, and the gingival level and soft tissue thickness at the lip of the baseline implant also increased gradually. However, the changes of soft tissue in the study group were better than those in the control group at 3 and 6 months after surgery (P < 0.05). The PES score was significantly improved in both groups after treatment, and the aesthetic score was higher in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Univariate and binary logistic multifactor regression showed that smoking and poor implant health were the related factors affecting implant absorption (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Immediate anterior tooth implantation and pharyngeal implant restoration can better restore the soft tissue and aesthetic degree of patients, but immediate implant restoration can more effectively restore the soft tissue, and controlling smoking and keeping clean around the implant after surgery is conducive to implant absorption.

Clinical Utility of an Exoskeleton Robot Using Three-Dimensional Scanner Modeling in Burn Patient: A Case Report

Hands are the part of the body that are most commonly involved in burns, and the main complications are finger joint contractures and nerve injuries. Hypertrophic scarring cannot be avoided despite early management of acute hand burn injuries, and some patients may need the application of an exoskeleton robot to restore hand function. To do this, it is essential to individualize the customization of the robot for each patient. Three-dimensional (3D) technology, which is widely used in the field of implants, anatomical models, and tissue fabrication, makes this goal achievable. Therefore, this report is a study on the usefulness of an exoskeleton robot using 3D technology for patients who lost bilateral hand function due to burn injury. Our subject was a 45-year-old man with upper limb dysfunction of 560 days after a flame and chemical burn injury, with resultant impairment of manual physical abilities. After wearing an exoskeleton robot made using 3D printing technology, he could handle objects effectively and satisfactorily. This innovative approach provided considerable advantages in terms of customization of size and reduction in manufacturing time and costs, thereby showing great potential for use in patients with hand dysfunction after burn injury.