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Purpose: To assess whether the presence or absence of keratinized tissue height (KTh) may have an influence on marginal bone levels, complications, and implant survival for short implants. Materials and Methods: The study was designed as parallel cohort retrospective research. Short implants with an implant length < 7 mm were considered. One cohort was composed of patients with short implants surrounded by ≥ 2 mm of KTh (adequate KTh); the other cohort included implants with < 2 mm of KTh (not-adequate KTh). Outcome measures were marginal bone level (MBL) changes, failures, and complications. Results: One hundred ten patients treated with 217 short and extrashort implants (4 to 6.6 mm long) were retrospectively included. The mean follow-up was 4.1 years after prosthetic loading (range: 1 to 8 years). The differences between KTh groups in MBL were not statistically significant at every follow-up considered: 0.05 mm at 1 year (P = .48), 0.06 mm at 3 years (P = .34), 0.04 mm at 5 years (P = .64), and 0.03 at 8 years (P = .82). A total of nine complications were reported: three in the not-adequate KTh group and six in the adequate group; the difference was not statistically significant (OR: 3.03, 95% CI: 0.68 to 13.46, P = .14). Five implants failed due to peri-implantitis, two in the not-adequate KTh group and three in the adequate group, without a statistically significant difference (OR: 2.76, 95% CI: 0.42-17.99, P = .29). Conclusion: This study showed no statistically significant differences in MBL, complications, and implant failure rates between short implants with adequate or not-adequate KThs. However, given the importance of patient comfort while brushing and plaque accumulation, keratinized tissue grafts could be important in selected patients, especially for those who are severely atrophic, also taking into consideration all the limitations of this study and the mediumterm follow-up. Nevertheless, longer follow-ups, larger numbers of patients, and randomized controlled clinical trials are needed before making more reliable clinical recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report describes an alternative minimally invasive fixed rehabilitation to approach an impacted maxillary canine (IMC) and the residual deciduous teeth. The patient refused any orthodontic treatment or surgical extraction of the IMC, asking for a fixed and fast option. Considering the available bone was about 5 mm in height, an immediately provisionalized postextractive 4-mm super-short implant was placed. Healing was uneventful. Two years after loading, the result was stable and the patient was fully satisfied. Within all the limitations of this case report, this approach could reduce rehabilitative times, possible complications, and costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report describes the rehabilitation of an extremely atrophic posterior mandible using 4-mm ultrashort implants and reports clinical and radiographic outcomes 7 years after loading. The patient refused to undergo any other treatment, from the removable prosthesis to the reconstructive surgery, and asked for a fixed, minimally invasive solution in the shortest possible time. The residual bone height above the alveolar nerve was an average of about 5 mm, so it was decided to treat the patient with four 4-mm ultrashort implants. Within the limitations of this case report, this procedure appears successful at 7 years after loading in this specific case and could reduce invasiveness, rehabilitative times, and costs. However, longer follow-ups on a large number of patients coming from randomized controlled clinical trials are necessary before making more reliable recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate clinical and radiographic outcomes of guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedures in the rehabilitation of partially edentulous atrophic arches. A total of 58 patients were included with a follow-up of 3 to 7 years after loading. Data seem to indicate that GBR with nonresorbable membranes can be a good clinical choice and suggest that it could be used to vertically reconstruct no more than 6 mm of bone in the posterior mandible. However, this technique remains difficult and requires expert surgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report describes the minimally invasive full fixed rehabilitation of a totally edentulous severely atrophic mandible. The patient refused to undergo any other treatment, from the reconstructive surgery to the removable prosthesis, and asked for a fixed minimally invasive solution in the shortest possible time. Considering that the posterior mandibular bone was inadequate in height and that the interforaminal bone was only 4.3 to 5 mm in height, the patient received four 4-mm-ultrashort implants in the interforaminal area that were immediately loaded. Within all the limitations of this case report this procedure in this specific case appears successful through 2 years of loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Presence of clinical attachment loss on the distal aspect to the second molar may be associated with malposition of the third molar. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reduction of clinical attachment loss at the distal aspect of the second molar after third molar extraction and application of leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF). Method and materials: Eighteen subjects with a clinical attachment loss on the distal site to the second molar associated with impacted third molar in both sides of the jaw were recruited for the study. For each subject the teeth were randomly allocated in test and control groups. After surgical removal of the impacted third molar, the L-PRF was inserted in the fresh alveolar socket of test sites; in the control sites no graft was inserted after extraction. Full-mouth plaque score, full-mouth bleeding score, clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth, and gingival recession were assessed at baseline and 6 months later. Results: After 6 months, mean CAL change was 1.99 ± 1.18 mm in the test group and 1.15 ± 1.01 mm in the control group; probing depth change was 1.33 ± 0.87 mm in the test group and 0.50 ± 0.63 mm in the control group. Statistically significant differences (P < .05) were observed between groups in terms of CAL and probing depth changes. No differences were found in gingival recession changes. Conclusion: Within the limits of the present study, the sites treated by means of application of L-PRF after impacted third molar extraction showed better results in terms of CAL gain and probing depth reduction when compared with control sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore whether extra-short (4-mm) implants could be used to rehabilitate sites where regenerative procedures had failed in order to avoid additional bone grafting. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted among patients who had received extra-short implants after failed regenerative procedures in the posterior atrophic mandible. The research outcomes were complications, implant failure and peri-implant marginal bone loss. Results: The study population was composed of 35 patients with 103 extra-short implants placed after the failure of different reconstructive approaches. The mean follow-up duration was 41.3 ± 21.4 months post-loading. Two implants failed, leading to a failure rate of 1.94% (95% confidence interval 0.24%–6.84%) and an implant survival rate of 98.06%. The mean amount of marginal bone loss at 5 years post-loading was 0.32 ± 0.32 mm. It was significantly lower in extra-short implants placed in regenerative sites that had previously received a loaded long implant (P = 0.004). Failure of guided bone regeneration before placement of short implants tended to lead to the highest annual rate of marginal bone loss (P = 0.089). The overall rate of biological and prosthetic complications was 6.79% (95% confidence interval 1.94%–11.70%) and 3.88% (95% confidence interval 1.07%–9.65%), respectively. The success rate was 86.4% (95% confidence interval 65.10%–97.10%) after 5 years of loading. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, extra-short implants seem to be a good clinical option to manage reconstructive surgical failures, reducing surgical invasiveness and rehabilitation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate implant survival rate and to measure peri-implant bone changes in fullarch rehabilitations with immediate placement and immediate loading implants with platform switching and Morse taper connection, in addition to platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and buccal bone augmentation, after 4 years of follow-up. Method and Materials: In this retrospective controlled study, patients who had been fully rehabilitated with immediate placement and immediate loading implants were evaluated 4 years post-loading. Implants with platform switching and Morse taper connections were used (In-Kone Universal System, Global D) and PRF and buccal bone augmentation were applied. The radiographic bone loss was calculated by subtracting the bone level at baseline (BLT0) from that at the 4-year follow-up (BLT4) in immediate and delayed implants. Measurements were made at the distal, mesial, vestibular, and oral sites of the implants and the deepest value was recorded. Implants placed in extraction sites and implants placed in healed sites were considered. A comparison between the groups was performed using the Mann-Whitney test. The implant survival rate was calculated using the KaplanMeier analysis. Results: In total, 42 patients (28 females and 14 males; average age 55.8 years old, age range 45 to 77) were recruited to this study. A total of 334 implants were put in place (226 in the maxilla, 108 in the mandible). The implant survival rate was 97.8% for the maxilla and 98.1% for the mandible, 98.3% for immediate implants and 96.9% for delayed implants. No statistically significant differences (P > .05) in the mean radiographic bone loss (mBL) were observed when comparing the immediate and delayed implants and the anterior and posterior implants. Statistically significant differences were found in the mBL between the mandibular and maxilla implants in the vestibular (P = .01) and mesial (P = .001) sites. Conclusion: Within their limits, the present results suggest that rehabilitation with platform switching and taper connection implants, in addition to buccal bone augmentation and the use of PRF, can lead to predictable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the available evidence in the literature to answer the following focused question: In partially edentulous arches with reduced bone width, do implants placed after horizontal bone augmentation exhibit differences in survival and success rate compared to narrow-diameter implants placed in native bone? Materials and methods: A population, intervention, comparison and outcome question was defined and an electronic search was conducted using the MEDLINE (via PubMed) and Cochrane Oral Health Group databases to identify all studies analysing the use of standard-diameter implants inserted in regenerated bone or narrow-diameter implants for the rehabilitation of partially or completely edentulous atrophic maxillae and mandibles. Inclusion criteria and quality assessments were established, and studies were selected on this basis. Results: Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria and were analysed cumulatively. A comparative meta-analysis was not possible due to the lack of studies directly comparing the two rehabilitation methods in question. A cumulative implant survival rate of 97.80% (1246/1274; pooled proportion 0.984, 95% confidence interval 0.977-0.991) was reported for the narrow implants placed in atrophic ridges, while similar results were obtained for the standard-diameter implants placed in regenerated bone, with a cumulative implant survival rate of 97.94% (1332/1360; pooled proportion 0.983, 95% confidence interval 0.976-0.990). Conclusions: The present systematic review found high and comparable survival rates between narrow- and standard-diameter implants placed in regenerated bone; however, well-designed randomised controlled trials are required to support the hypothesis that both treatment strategies are successful in comparable circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To analyse and compare the dimensional changes of unassisted extraction sockets with alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) techniques and investigate any factors that impact the resorption of the alveolar bone. Materials and methods: A systematic search was conducted to identify randomised clinical trials (RCTs). All data were extracted, and a meta-analysis was performed for the changes in all buccolingual ridge width, midbuccal and midlingual ridge height, and mesial and distal ridge height, and horizontal width at reference points apical to the crestal area. Results: Based on 14 RCTs, the effectiveness of ARP in reducing the dimensions of the postextraction alveolar socket was confirmed. The clinical magnitude of this effect was 1.95 mm in the buccolingual ridge width, 1.62 mm in the midbuccal ridge height, and 1.26 mm on the midlingual ridge height. Additionally, 0.45 mm and 0.34 mm for mesial and distal ridge height, and 1.21 mm, and 0.76 mm for ridge width changes at points 3 and 5 mm apical to the crest were noted. Meta-regression analyses revealed that the reflection of flaps and primary wound coverage during ARP may have detrimental effects on bone remodelling, while no statistical significance was observed for any of the bone graft substitutes or the percentage of molar sockets. Conclusions: Regardless of the protocol, ARP can only minimise ridge resorption. ARP is most effective on horizontal ridge width, providing the most benefit coronally (approximating the crest), followed by the midbuccal ridge height. Conflict of interest statement: The authors do not have any financial interests either directly or indirectly in the companies whose materials were evaluated in this study. This manuscript was partially supported by the University of Michigan Periodontal Graduate Student Research Fund. This systematic review was presented at the Mini-Invasivity vs Traditional Approach in Periodontology and Implantology -- Consensus Conference, 20--22 September 2018, Naples, Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the clinical outcome of fixed prostheses supported by 4- to 8-mm-long implants with prostheses supported by longer implants placed in vertically augmented atrophic mandibles after a follow-up of 5 years in function. Materials and methods: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and MEDLINE were searched up to 1st September 2018 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with a follow-up of at least 5 years in function comparing fixed prostheses supported by 4- to 8-mm-long implants with prostheses supported by longer implants placed in vertically augmented atrophic mandibles. Outcome measures were prosthesis failure, implant failures, augmentation procedure failures, complications, and peri-implant marginal bone level changes. Screening of eligible studies, assessment of the risk of bias and data extraction were conducted in duplicate and independently by two review authors. The statistical unit of the analysis was the prosthesis. Results were expressed as random-effects models using mean differences for continuous outcomes and risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Four eligible RCTs that included originally 135 patients were included. Two RCTs had a parallel-group design and two a split-mouth design. Short implants were 5.0 to 6.6 mm long and were compared with longer implants placed in posterior mandibles augmented with inter-positional blocks of bone substitutes. All trials were judged at unclear risk of bias. Twelve (14%) bone augmentation procedures failed to achieve the planned bone height to allow placement of implants with the planned length. Five years after loading, 28 patients (21%) had dropped out from the four RCTs. There were no differences for patients having prosthesis (RR = 1.46; 95% CI: 0.52 to 4.09; P = 0.47; I2 = 0%) or implant (RR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.31 to 3.21; P = 1.00; I2 = 0%) failures between the two interventions, but there were more patients experiencing complications (RR = 4.72; 95% CI: 2.43 to 9.17; P < 0.00001; I2 = 0%) and peri-implant marginal bone loss (mean difference = 0.60 mm; 95% CI: 0.36 to 0.83; P < 0.00001; I2 = 45%) at longer implants in augmented bone. Conclusions: Five years after loading, prosthetic and implant failures were similar between the two interventions, but complications and peri-implant marginal bone loss were higher and more severe at longer implants placed in vertically augmented mandibles. Larger trials and longer follow-ups up to 10 years after loading are needed to confirm or reject the present preliminary findings. However in the meantime short implants could be the preferable option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]