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The reconstruction of alveolar ridge defects can be challenging, especially when the lesion is large, noncontained, and located in the esthetic region. The present report describes the guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedure and prosthetic rehabilitation of a severe perforation defect in the anterior maxilla. Clinical and radiographic evaluations of the lesion indicated an endodonticperiodontal origin, and biopsy results confirmed the absence of malignancy. GBR was performed with the use of cortical mineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (FDBA) combined with recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB (rhPDGF-BB) and a resorbable collagen membrane without the use of tenting or fixation screws. Six months after GBR, CBCT revealed adequate bone fill for the placement of 4.1 × 10-mm or 4.1 × 12-mm dental implants. The implant surgery was fully guided with a two-stage approach. After 10 months of healing, the implants were loaded with a screw-retained porcelain partial denture. The staged GBR approach, using a combination of FDBA, rhPDGF-BB, and a resorbable membrane without the use of tenting or fixation screws, resulted in significant bone fill, successful implant placement, and a functional and esthetic implant-supported prosthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This assessment evaluated the clinical feasibility of using narrow-diameter implants to support a mandibular overdenture. Twelve patients presenting with an edentulous mandible were recruited from nine dental offices. Each patient received two to four implants in the mandible. The implants were placed without additional bone augmentation, and a total of 36 implants were placed. All sites achieved satisfactory crestal bone stability and soft tissue maintenance 1 year after the final prosthetic restoration. This investigation was supported by the Osseointegration Foundation, working in conjunction with the Zest Anchors implant company. There are three basic valuable activities that emerge from a professional foundation, which were reflected in this case study. They include disseminating information to practitioners, persuading young clinicians to become research investigators, and reaching out to patients in need of treatment who cannot afford it without a charitable opportunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation was designed to evaluate crestal bone stability and soft tissue maintenance to Laser-Lok tapered tissue-level implants. Twelve patients presenting with an edentulous site adequate for the placement of two implants were recruited from four dental offices (2 to 4 patients per office). Each patient received two Laser-Lok tissue-level implants placed with a 3-mm interimplant distance according to a surgical stent. The implants were placed so that the Laser-Lok zone sat at the junction between hard and soft tissues. A total of 24 implants were placed, and all achieved satisfactory crestal bone stability and soft tissue maintenance 1 year after receiving the final prosthetic restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this multicenter randomized controlled study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly developed ionic-sonic electric toothbrush in terms of plaque removal and reduction of gingival inflammation. A total of 78 subjects from three dental centers were invited to join the study. They were randomized to receive either a manual toothbrush (control group) or an ionic-sonic electric brush (test group). Full-mouth prophylaxis and oral hygiene instructions based on the stationary bristle technique were provided 1 week prior to the baseline visit. At baseline and at each follow-up appointment, Plaque Index (PI) and Gingival Index (GI) were recorded. In addition, probing depth (PD) and bleeding on probing were recorded at baseline and at the last appointment (week 5). At completion of the study, subjects in the test group were given a questionnaire regarding their satisfaction with the toothbrush. Sixty-four subjects completed the study (control: 28; test: 36). The mean age of the subjects was 36.90 ± 12.19 years. No significant difference between the baseline and 5-week PD was found. Plaque removal efficacy and reduction in gingival inflammation were more significant for the test group at week 2. Both the control and test groups showed statistically significant improvement in PI and GI from baseline to week 5. The ionic-sonic toothbrush was more effective than manual toothbrush after a 1-week application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the present study was to evaluate human histologic healing of dental implants with a unique triangular neck design that is narrower than the implant body. Four patients in need of full-mouth reconstruction were recruited and received several implants to support a full-arch prosthesis. In each patient, two additional customized reduced-diameter implants were placed, designated to be harvested after 6 months of submerged healing. The eight harvested implants were all placed in healed edentulous maxillary or mandibular ridges. These implants were Ų 3.5 × 8 mm in size, and the final osteotomy drill allowed for the creation of a gap up to 0.2 mm in size between the coronal aspect of the triangular implant neck and the surrounding bone. At the end of the healing period, the implants were retrieved with the surrounding bone. Microcomputed tomography (μCT) was performed before processing the biopsy samples for undecalcified histologic exampination. Bone-to-implant contact (BIC) was measured from the μCT data and from buccolingual/buccopalatal and mesiodistal central histologic sections. All implant gaps were filled by mature remodeled bone. The mean BICs of the BL/BP and MD sections were 64.45% ± 6.86% and 65.39% ± 10.44%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference. The mean 360-degree 3D BIC measured all over the implant surface was 68.58% ± 3.76%. The difference between the BIC measured on the μCT and on the histologic sections was not statistically significant. The positive histologic results of the study confirmed the efficacy of this uniquely designed dental implant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation was designed to evaluate the healing response of 9.3-μm CO2 laser-assisted periodontal therapy. Five patients presenting with moderate to severe periodontitis, with an initial pocket depth (PD) = 5 mm and with teeth predetermined to be surgically extracted, were enrolled and consented to treatment with full-mouth CO2 laser-assisted therapy. The laser treatment was carried out in the Ultraguide Mode at a setting of 0.25-mm spot size, with an average power of 0.65 to 1.15 watts and 20% mist. The laser tip was passed from the gingival margin and down apically to the base of the pocket with a sweeping L motion. The teeth were intensely scaled with piezoultrasonic instrumentation afterwards. A second pass of the laser tip was performed for the study teeth. At 9 months, all patients were clinically reevaluated. For sites with an initial pocket depth of = 7 mm, a mean PD reduction of 3.97 ± 1.36 mm and a mean clinical attachment level gain of 3.54 ± 1.54 mm were achieved, resulting in a mean PD of 3.91 ± 0.77 mm. En bloc biopsy samples of four teeth were obtained and analyzed; two demonstrated histologic evidence of new bone formation while the other two healed with a long junctional epithelium with minimal inflammatory infiltrate. Further long-term clinical studies are needed to investigate the treatment stability obtained with a 9.3-μm CO2 laser compared to conventional surgical therapy. Nevertheless, the encouraging clinical results indicated that adjunctive use of the 9.3-μm CO2 laser-assisted periodontal therapy can be beneficial for treatment of periodontally compromised patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]