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Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze retrospectively the clinical reliability of complete-arch rehabilitations with screw-retained fixed prostheses supported by four dental implants inserted with a fully guided surgical protocol. Materials and Methods: All the implants were placed between December 1, 2015, and April 30, 2019. Digital implant surgical planning was performed for all the complete-arch rehabilitations, and then, fully guided surgery was performed. The fixed provisional prostheses were delivered the day of the surgery and replaced by definitive prostheses after the healing period. Patients were followed up to determine survival of the implants and success of the overall treatment. Results: A total of 160 implants were positioned in 37 patients, with three patients receiving rehabilitations in both arches. A total of 40 complete-arch rehabilitations were performed, 26 in the maxilla and 14 in the mandible. Only five implants failed, resulting in an overall implant survival rate of 96.9%. No definitive prostheses failed, resulting in a 100% prosthetic success rate. The failed implants were successfully replaced before definitive prostheses were made, resulting in an overall treatment success of 100%. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, digital planning and guided surgery to perform complete-arch rehabilitations on four dental implants seems to be a valid treatment option. However, several prospective studies with longer follow-up are needed to achieve more predictable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the survival rate, marginal bone levels, and prosthetic success of short implants when placed in posterior areas of severely reabsorbed mandibles. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was performed of all randomized controlled trials with at least 10 patients with a control group where bone augmentations were performed that were published between January 2015 and February 2020. From 77 pertinent studies, 14 full-text publications were studied, and 6 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Results: The implant survival rates of short dental implants ranged from 92% to 96.9% with a follow-up from 1 to 5 years, and the prosthetic success rate ranged from 90% to 100% during the same follow-up. The mean marginal bone level values of involved short implants ranged from -0.51 to -2.30 mm. Conclusion: The obtained data showed that short dental implants are a valid therapeutic choice to rehabilitate severe mandibular atrophy in the medium to long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the incidence of neurosensory disturbance and the cumulative survival and success rates of ITI solid-screw implants placed in conjunction with an inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) transposition technique. Materials and Methods: 46 ITI implants were placed in 15 patients following transposition of the IAN. In 4 patients nerve transpositioning was performed bilaterally, so a total of 19 IAN mobilization surgeries were performed. Neurosensory dysfunction was objectively evaluated by using light touch (LT), pain (PT), and 2-point discrimination (2-DT) tests. In addition, patients were asked to answer a short questionnaire to investigate individual feelings of discomfort and advantages related to this surgical technique. The mean follow-up period was 49.1 months (range, 12 to 78 months). Results: The cumulative implant survival and success rates were 95.7% and 90.5%, respectively. Only 2 implants were lost. Neurosensory disturbance (ie, disturbance registered by the LT, PT, and 2-DT tests) was experienced in 4 of 19 cases. However, at the time of data analysis (12 to 78 months after surgery), all patients indicated that they would go through the surgery again. Discussion: The IAN transposition technique, when used in the severely atrophied posterior mandible, allowed placement of implants with adequate length and good initial stabilization. All patients felt that they had received significant benefits from their new prostheses. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that lateral nerve transposition can be used as a surgical procedure to enable ITI implant placement in the severely resorbed posterior mandible. (More than 50 references.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]