Buccal Bone Thickness in Anterior and Posterior Teeth-A Systematic Review

(1) Background: Immediate dental implant placement has been a subject of great interest over the last decade. Here, information regarding the anatomy and bone thickness of the jaw prior to dental implant placement is crucial to increase the surgery's success and the patient's safety. The clinical premises for this approach have been controversially discussed. One of those heavily discussed premises is a buccal bone thickness of at least 1 mm thickness. This meta-analysis aims to systematically review buccal bone thickness (BBT) in healthy patients. Thus, the feasibility of immediate dental implant placement in daily practice can be assessed. (2) Methods: A search in the electronic databases was performed to identify articles reporting on BBT that was measured by computed tomography in adults. (3) Results: We were able to find 45 studies, including 4324 patients with 25,452 analyzed teeth. The analysis showed a BBT at the alveolar crest of 0.76 ± 0.49 mm in the maxillary frontal and of 1.42 ± 0.74 mm in the maxillary posterior region. In the mandible, the average measured values were similar to those in the maxilla (front: 0.95 ± 0.58 mm; posterior: 1.20 ± 0.96 mm). In the maxillary frontal region 74.4% and in the mandibular frontal region 61.2% of the crestal buccal bones showed widths <1 mm. (4) Conclusions: In more than 60% of the cases, the BBT at the alveolar crest is <1 mm in maxillary and mandibular frontal regions. This anatomic data supports careful pre-surgical assessment, planning of a buccal graft, and critical selection of indication for immediate implant placement, especially in the maxillary and mandibular frontal and premolar region.

Immediate Implant and Customized Healing Abutment for a Periodontally Compromised Socket: 1-Year Follow-Up Retrospective Evaluation

Immediate dental implant placement with or without immediate loading is reported in daily dentistry and implantology, but these procedures are not common in the case of periradicular and periapical lesions around the tooth needed to be replaced. In the following retrospective evaluation, 10 cases with a 1-year follow-up were selected to propose the technique of an immediate provisional non-loading prosthesis being delivered on the same day of the post-extraction implant placement in multiradicular teeth affected by chronic periradicular and periapical lesions. Post-extractive sockets underwent immediate dental implant placement by filling the empty space with sterile, re-absorbable gelatin sponges. The widths of the alveolar ridge were measured on three-dimensional radiographs before and after the operation, 4 and 12 months later. Non-parametric statistics were performed to compare the outcomes over time with a level of significance of 0.05. Comparing the preoperative cross-sectional images of cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) scans to the postoperative ones, it was noted that changes in the crestal ridge width, ΔCW, (compared to baseline) were negligible and not clinically appreciable. However, while ΔCW at 4 months appeared to be negative (-0.17 ± 045 mm), crestal width at 12 months was at the same level as the baseline (ΔCW = 0.02 ± 0.48 mm), with a significant difference between 4 and 12 months (p-value = 0.0494). Immediate implant placement with an immediate non-loading provisional customized healing abutment of polyether-ether-ketone placed into the post-extractive sockets with asymptomatic and large chronic periapical and periradicular lesions could represent a further treatment strategy for patients' rehabilitation and soft tissue preservation to replace a hopeless tooth.

Immediate flapless full-arch rehabilitation of edentulous jaws on 4 or 6 implants according to the prosthetic-driven planning and guided implant surgery: A retrospective study on clinical and radiographic outcomes up to 10 years of follow-up

OBJECTIVES

to retrospectively evaluate clinical and radiographic outcomes of immediate, flapless full-arch prostheses, supported by 4/6 implants according to prosthetic-driven planning and guided surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study involved 28 edentulous patients (20 female/8 males; average age 67.75 ± 8.627 years), 32 prostheses (17 all-on-4/15 all-on-6) and 164 implants. The Implants survival, prostheses success/survival, peri-implant marginal bone loss, incidence of biological and prosthetic complications were evaluated. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to analyze the influence of implant and patient characteristics on marginal bone loss.

RESULTS

Cumulative implant survival rate was 89.7% for all-on-four (seven failures) and 99.0% for all-on-six (one failure) after a mean follow-up of 6.46 ± 2.236 years (range 1-10 years). Cumulative prosthesis success rate was 51.5% (58.8% for all-on-four/ 43.8% for all-on-six). Prosthesis survival rate was 88.2% for all-on-four. No failure was registered in all-on-six. Mean value of marginal bone loss was 1.38 ± 0.1.28 mm at 5-year and 2.09 ± 0.56 mm at 10-year follow-up. No difference was found in the mean value of marginal bone resorption between all-on-four (1.56 ± 1.61 mm) and all-on-six (1.20 ± 0.85 mm) (p = 0.104) and between tilted (1.22 ± 1.29 mm) and axial implants (1.44 ± 1.27 mm) (p = 0.385) after 5-year follow-up. The incidence of biological complications was 1.0% in all-on-six (one mucositis) and 10.3% in all-on-four (two peri-implantitis). Prosthetic complications affected teeth of final rehabilitations with 3 detachments, 10 chippings or fractures, and 3 severe occlusal wears.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results and within the limitations of the present study, the implant-supported hybrid prosthesis according to prosthetic-driven planning and guided surgery showed to be an efficient, safe, and effective approach to rehabilitate edentulous jaws.

The effect of dynamic loading on bacterial microleakage of the dental implant fixture-abutment interface: An in vitro study

Aim

Bacterial micro leakage at implant-abutment interface under functional loading is an important factor, may lead to crestal bone loss and affect the long term success of dental implants. Due to the limited studies about the implant systems with a connection of Slip joint design, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of dynamic loading on bacterial leakage at the implant-abutment interface with slip joint connection.

Settings and Design

In vitro- comparative study.

Materials and Methods

A total of 20 implants and abutments with slip joint connections (Tapered Screw-Vent, 3.7 mm ×10 mm, Zimmer Dental, USA) was examined and depends on using functional loading were divided into two groups; loaded and unloaded. Initially, 10 μl of Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) culture broth was pipetted to the internal lumen of each implant, then the abutments were tightened to the fixtures and crowns were cemented. In the unloaded group, samples were immersed in E-Coli suspension for 5 days. In the loaded group, samples were immersed in microbial suspension under 500000 cycles using a cyclic load device. Following disconnection of fixtures and abutments, microbial samples were taken from the internal lumen of implants and colonies were counted. Data were analyzed using.

Statistical Analysis Used

Mann-Whitney statistical test, SPSS version 24.

Results

The mean rate of micro leakage in unloaded and loaded groups was 4000 CFU/ml and 27000 ± 31640 CFU/ml respectively. Bacterial colonies grew in 10% of unloaded samples and 50% of loaded samples. This difference was statistically significant. (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Microbial micro leakage at the implant-abutment interface with slip joint design increased significantly after functional loading.

Comparative Clinical Outcomes of Two Different Zygomatic Implant Protocols for the Rehabilitation of Severely Atrophic Maxillae: A Retrospective Analysis

PURPOSE

This retrospective study aimed to compare extended sinus lift and extramaxilla surgical protocols for restoring severely atrophic maxillae with zygomatic implants (ZIs) and evaluate their clinical effectiveness.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study includes patients who were treated at a dental clinic in Italy from 2012 to 2022. These patients received fixed screw-retained complete dentures supported by either two or four zygomatic implants (ZIs). The patients underwent a minimum one-year follow-up post-loading, following two protocols: the hybrid and the quad protocol. Digital planning incorporated CBCT scans, intraoral scans, and digital prosthetic plans within implant planning software. Surgical techniques involved extended sinus lift and extramaxilla techniques methods, utilizing the ZAGA approach for ZI placement.

RESULTS

The results showed that out of 19 patients with a mean age of 65.3, a total of 56 zygomatic implants (ZIs) and 20 standard implants were used, with no failures observed in either the implants or the definitive prostheses, resulting in a 100% survival rate. According to the ORIS criteria, overall success was achieved in terms of implant stability, sinus health, peri-implant soft tissue condition, and prosthetic function. Only two ZIs (3.6%) exhibited minor gingival recession and moderate thread exposure, which were closely monitored through professional hygiene maintenance.

CONCLUSION

Both the extended sinus lift and extramaxilla protocols demonstrated comparable clinical outcomes and minimal complications in the restoration of severely atrophic maxillae with Zygomatic Implants (ZIs). However, further extensive studies involving larger, multicenter designs and longer follow-up periods are needed to validate and refine these outcomes.

The effect of different implant-abutment types and heights on screw loosening in cases with increased crown height space

OBJECTIVES

The stability of the abutment screw is pivotal for successful implant-supported restorations, yet screw loosening remains a common complication, leading to compromised function and potential implant failure. This study aims to evaluate the effect of different implant-abutment types and heights on screw loosening in cases with increased crown height space (CHS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this in vitro study, a total of 64 abutments in eight distinct groups based on their type and height were evaluated. These groups included stock, cast, and milled abutments with heights of 4 mm (groups S4, C4, and M4), 7 mm (groups S7, C7, and M7), and 10 mm (groups C10 and M10). Removal torque loss (RTL) was assessed both before and after subjecting the abutments to dynamic cyclic loading. Additionally, the differences between initial RTL and RTL following cyclic loading were analyzed for each group (p < .05).

RESULTS

The C10 group demonstrated the highest RTL, whereas the S4 group exhibited the lowest initial RTL percentage (p < .05). Furthermore, the study established significant variations in RTL percentages and the discrepancies between initial and postcyclic loading RTL across different abutment groups (p < .05). Additionally, both abutment types and heights were found to significantly influence the RTL percentage (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

The type and height of the implant abutment affected screw loosening, and in an increased CHS of 12 mm, using a stock abutment with a postheight of 4 mm can be effective in minimizing screw loosening.