Search

The following amendments are made to the published article: Int J Oral Implantol (Berl) 2021;14(2):213-222; First published 12 May 2021.

The following amendments are made to the published article: Int J Oral Implantol (Berl) 2024;17(1):105-117; First published 19 March 2024.

In recent years, a wide variety of materials have been used in dental implant treatment. In selecting the superstructures and abutments to be used it is important to consider their potential effect on the stability and durability of the planned implant. Excessive force applied to an implant during maintenance commonly results in complications, such as fracture of the superstructure or abutment, and loosening or fracture of the screws. This report describes a case of implant treatment for a 23-year-old man with esthetic disturbance due to trauma to the maxillary anterior teeth. The left maxillary central incisor could not be conserved due to this trauma, which had been caused by a traffic accident. After extraction, the tooth was restored with an anterior bridge. The crown of the left maxillary lateral incisor was fractured at the crown margin and, at the patient's request, implant treatment was selected as the restorative treatment for the missing tooth. A thorough preoperative examination was performed using placement simulation software. One titanium screw-type implant was placed in the maxillary left central incisor under local anesthesia. An all-ceramic crown with a zirconia frame was placed as a screw-fixed direct superstructure. At one year postoperatively, however, the superstructure and abutment became detached due to trauma. The fractured zirconia abutment was removed and replaced with a remanufactured abutment and superstructure. The patient has reported no subsequent dental complaint over the last 11 years. In this case, a surface analysis of the fractured zirconia abutment was performed. The scanned images revealed a difference in the fracture surfaces between the tensile and compressive sides, and electron probe microanalysis demonstrated the presence of titanium on the fracture surface. It was inferred that the hard zirconia abutment had scraped the titanium from the internal surface of the implant.

Statement of Problem: Various options are available to allow angle correction for screw-retained restorations for malaligned implants, including angled abutments, angled screw channel abutments, and angled implants. However, the effect these angle correction components have on prosthetic screw loosening is unclear., Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the effect of angled abutments, angled screw channel abutments, and angled implants on prosthetic screw loosening., Material and Methods: This manuscript followed the Preferred Reporting Items for the Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Searches were performed through 31 December 2021 in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science with no year limit targeting in vitro studies evaluating the effect of angulation correction components on screw loosening., Results: A total of 460 articles were identified. After removing duplicates, 306 titles were screened. Nine of the remaining 36 articles selected for full-text analysis met the selection criteria. The qualitative analysis used data from 394 implants. All studies featured straight abutments as the control group, and, in 8 studies, the angle correction component was included on the level of the abutment. Only in 1 study was the angle correction component at the level of the implant. The angle correction of the prosthetic component varied from 0 degrees in all studies up to a maximum correction of 30 degrees. Statistically significant increases in screw loosening with increasing abutment angle correction were reported by multiple authors (P<.05). However, other articles reported nonsignificant differences in screw loosening because of angulation after cyclic loading (P>.05). The only study investigating angle correction at the implant level found significantly less screw loosening (P<.05) in the angled implant group compared with the nonangled implant group., Conclusions: Several options are available to correct discrepancies between the surgical axis and the ideal prosthetic axis for rehabilitations supported by dental implants. The current evidence does not clearly indicate the superiority of any single solution for minimizing screw loosening., (Copyright © 2022 Editorial Council for The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Article Title and Bibliographic Information: Immediate implant placement with flap or flapless surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pitman J, Christiaens V, Callens J, Glibert M, Seyssens L, Blanco J, et al. J Clin Periodontol. 2023;50:755-64., Source of Funding: The present study was funded by the authors and their institutions., Conflict of Interest: The authors have no actual or potential conflicts of interest., Type of Study/design: Systematic review and meta-analysis., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study was performed to compare the amount of marginal bone loss (MBL) and the success rate of implants placed following maxillary ridge expansion with two surgical techniques. A non-randomized prospective study was designed. The patients underwent either bone expansion or ridge splitting, and simultaneous implant placement. The implants were loaded according to the delayed loading protocol with single crowns. Each study group included 35 implants placed in 31 patients. One year after loading, the implant success rate was 100 % in both groups. The median MBL was 1.00 mm in both groups (interquartile range 0.10 mm in the bone expansion group and 0.30 mm in the ridge splitting group) (no significant difference, P = 0.749). The median MBL around implants placed in sites with D2, D3, and D4 density bone was 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, and 0.80 mm in the expansion group and 1.50 mm, 1.00 mm, and 0.85 mm in the splitting group, respectively. There was a significant difference in MBL between the different bone density types within both groups (P < 0.001). In conclusion, no significant difference in the amount of MBL or the success rate was observed between implants placed simultaneously with ridge splitting and those placed simultaneously with bone expansion, in the maxilla., (Copyright © 2024 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To evaluate clinical, clinician- and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of two adjacent single posterior implants immediately loaded with definitive single crowns up to 1 year. Ten patients in need of two adjacent posterior single implants were included. All implants were placed applying a fully digital workflow. Definitive screw-retained single zirconia crowns were delivered within 72 h after implant placement. Clinical parameters, patient- and clinician-reported outcomes were assessed up to 1 year of follow-up., Clinical Considerations: Clinical outcomes remained stable, with no implant failures or technical and biological complications throughout the observation period. Patient satisfaction was very high at baseline (crown delivery) and remained consistently high at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Crown insertion 3 days after implant placement was rated as an easy procedure by clinicians., Conclusions: Two adjacent single implants with immediate definitive restorations (<72 h) in the posterior region appear to be a viable and easy treatment option to shorten the overall treatment time and potentially enhancing patient satisfaction. However, randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the advantages of this treatment protocol over a delayed loading approach., Clinical Significance: In selected cases, immediate implant loading with definitive restorations in the posterior region appears a valuable and straightforward option to shorten the overall treatment time., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Purpose: To compare the effect of taper, length, angle, and number of vertical axial walls on the retentive strength of a cemented crown on a partially customized hybrid abutment in the esthetic zone., Materials and Methods: A total of 35 metal copings were used and divided into two groups. One group had 30 copings cemented to their corresponding 8-degree tapered abutment with lengths from 3 to 8 mm, increasing in 1-mm increments (5 copings per length). The other group had the remaining 5 copings and consisted of a standardized metal coping that matched a hexagonal abutment with 3-mm vertical axial walls and the sequential removal of 1, 2, and 3 contiguous vertical axial walls. Dislodgment tests were performed for all copings in both groups. Maximum retentive forces were measured in retentive strength (kgF), with a conversion factor of 9.807 N &#61; 1 kgF., Results: At each tapered abutment length, the retentive strength increased proportionally and was significantly different, ranging from 31.67 ± 4.10 kgF to 67.68 ± 11.22 kgF (F [5,24] &#61; 20.46, P < .001). An unmodified hexagonal abutment demonstrated the highest retentive strength (70.15 ± 12.97 kgF). The sequential removal of 1, 2, and 3 contiguous vertical axial walls of the hexagonal abutment resulted in retentive strength values of 59.89 ± 10.06 kgF, 57.01 ± 9.62 kgF, and 55.99 ± 9.35 kgF, respectively, with no significant difference (P > .05) in strength., Conclusions: A partially customized abutment with vertical axial walls on one side and a profile reduction on the opposite side can provide comparable retention to cemented copings at one-third the length and at one-sixth the surface area of an 8-mm abutment with an 8-degree taper.

Purpose: This is a clinical study to compare immediate and staged impression methods in a complete digital workflow for single-unit implants in the posterior area., Materials and Methods: Sixty patients requiring single-unit implant crowns were enrolled. Forty patients were assigned to the test group, immediate digital impression after implant surgery with crown delivery 4 months later. The remaining 20 patients were assigned to the control group, staged digital impressions 4 months after implant surgery, and crown delivery 1 month later. Both workflows involved free-model CAD-CAM crown fabrications. The crowns were scanned before and after clinical adjustment using an intraoral scanner (TRIOS Color; 3Shape). Two 3D digital models were trimmed and superimposed to evaluate the dimensional changes using Geomagic Control software. Chairside times for the entire workflow were recorded. Kruskal-Wallis was performed to compare crown adjustments between two groups, while One-way ANOVA was used to compare chairside time durations between the test and control groups., Results: All crowns were delivered without refabrication. The average maximum occlusion adjustment of crowns was -353.2 ± 207.1 μm in the test group and -212.7 ± 150.5 μm in the control group (p = 0.02). The average area of occlusal adjustment, measured as an area of deviation larger than 100 μm, was 14.8 ± 15.3 and 8.4 ± 8.1 mm 2 in the test and control groups, respectively (p = 0.056). There were no significant differences in the mesial and distal contact adjustment amounts, or the maximum deviations of the proximal area, between the two groups. The mean chair-side time was 50.25 ± 13.48 and 51.20 ± 5.34 min in the test and control groups, respectively (p = 0.763)., Conclusions: The immediate impression method in the digital workflow for single-unit implants required more occlusal adjustments of crowns but showed similar chairside times compared to the staged impression method., (© 2024 by the American College of Prosthodontists.)

Introduction: To present the 3-year clinical, radiographic, and aesthetic outcomes in patients with congenitally missing lateral incisors rehabilitated with two narrow-diameter implants (NDIs)., Methods: The original population consisted of 100 patients rehabilitated with a cement-retained bi-layered zirconia single-unit crown supported by either a Ø2.9 mm (Test) or a Ø3.3 mm (Control) NDI (n = 50). At the 1- and 3-year follow-up (T2, T3), implant survival rate, crestal bone level (CBL) changes, biological, and technical complications were recorded, while the assessment of the aesthetic outcomes was performed using the Copenhagen Index Score., Results: Seventy-four patients Ø2.9 mm (n = 39) or Ø3.3 mm (n = 35) reached T3, as 24 patients were lost to follow-up and 1 implant (Ø3.3 mm) was removed. Throughout the observation period, minimal CBL changes (i.e., <1 mm) were detected between groups. Despite the positive aesthetic scores recorded (i.e., 1-2), at T3 20% of patients rehabilitated with a Ø3.3 mm versus 2.6% of patients Ø2.9 mm displayed an alveolar process deficiency (Score 3). No additional technical and/or mechanical complications were recorded between T2 and T3. Tooth vitality was maintained in all neighboring teeth. Peri-implant probing depths and plaque scores remained low in both groups (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: The use of 2.9 or 3.3 diameter implants showed comparable favorable mid-term results in terms of survival rate, CBL, and aesthetic outcomes. Hence, clinicians should rely on the use of such NDIs when replacing maxillary lateral incisors., (© 2024 The Authors. Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: This study aimed to assess radiographic marginal bone changes 22 months post extraction, which is 1 year after implant loading in alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) sites grafted with a combination of collagen-embedded xenogenic bone substitute (DBBM-C) and collagen matrix (CMX), comparing them with implants placed in naturally healed sites., Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted over 22 months. Patients who needed a single tooth extraction and subsequent implant placement in nonmolar areas were enrolled. The test group received deproteinized bovine bone mineral with 10% collagen covered by a procaine collagen membrane, while the control group allowed spontaneous healing. Radiographic bone level changes were documented using periapical radiographs at implant placement and follow-up visits (6, 10, and 22 months postextraction). Early implant soft tissue exposure, clinical parameters, and patient-reported outcomes were recorded., Results: Twenty-two out of 28 participants completed a 22-month follow-up, 9 in the test group and 13 in the control group. At 10-month postextraction follow-up, the mean MBL was 1.01 ± 1.04 mm in the treatment group and 0.81 ± 0.93 mm in the control group (p = 0.804). At 22 months, the mean MBL was 2.09 ± 1.03 mm in the treatment group and 1.58 ± 0.73 mm in the control group (p = 0.339). No statistically significant differences in probing depth (PD) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were found at the 22 -month follow-up as well. Soft tissue mean recession was observed in the control group (0.36 ± 0.84 mm), while no recession was found in the test group (p = 0.2). Early implant soft tissue exposure occurred in 33% of test group participants, while none was observed in the control group (p = 0.047)., Conclusion: One year after implant loading, no significant differences in marginal bone resorption were found between implants placed in ARP-treated and naturally healed sites. However, ARP-treated sites exhibited early implant soft-tissue exposure, suggesting a possible impairment in soft tissue healing., (© 2024 The Author(s). Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the influence of titanium base (ti-base) abutment macro- and micro-geometry on the mechanical stability of polymer-infiltrated ceramic network (PICN) screw-retained implant-supported single crowns (iSCs)., Materials and Methods: Twelve specimens per group were used, comprising six different implant/ti-base abutment combinations restored with PICN iSCs: Nb-T (gingival height [GH]: 1.5 mm, prosthetic height [PH]: 4.3 mm), CC (GH: 0.8 mm, PH: 4.3 mm), CC-P (GH: 0.8 mm, PH: 7 mm), Nb-V (GH: 1.5 mm, PH: 6 mm), St (GH: 1.5 mm, PH: 5.5 mm), and Th (GH: 0.5 mm, PH: 9 mm). The specimens underwent thermo-mechanical aging, and those that survived were subsequently subjected to static loading until failure. The data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey post hoc test (α = .05)., Results: All specimens survived thermo-mechanical aging without complications, namely, visible cracks, debonding, or screw loosening. Th group demonstrated the highest strength values among all the groups, with significant differences compared to Nb-T (p < .05), CC (p < .001), and St (p < .001). Additionally, CC-P group exhibited significantly superior fracture strength results compared to CC (p < .05) and St (p < .05)., Conclusion: The choice of ti-base, particularly prosthetic height, had a significant influence on fracture resistance of PICN iSCs. Nevertheless, the height or geometrical features of the ti-base did not exhibit a significant influence on the mechanical behavior of the iSC/ti-base assembly under thermomechanical loading, as all specimens withstood the aging without complication or failure., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of dental implant placement in a single tooth gap, including the postextraction site and healed site, using a task-autonomous robotic system and a dynamic navigation system., Materials and Methods: Forty partially edentulous models requiring both immediate and conventional implant placement were randomly divided into a robotic system group and a navigation system group. The coronal, apical, and angular deviations of the implants were measured and assessed between the groups., Results: The deviations in immediate implant placement were compared between the robotic system and dynamic navigation system groups, showing a mean (±SD) coronal deviation of 0.86 ± 0.36 versus 0.70 ± 0.21 mm (p = .101), a mean apical deviation of 0.77 ± 0.34 versus 0.95 ± 0.38 mm (p = .127), and a mean angular deviation of 1.94 ± 0.66° versus 3.44 ± 1.38° (p < .001). At the healed site, significantly smaller coronal deviation (0.46 ± 0.29 vs. 0.70 ± 0.30 mm, p = .005), apical deviation (0.56 ± 0.30 vs. 0.85 ± 0.25 mm, p < .001), and angular deviation (1.36 ± 0.54 vs. 1.80 ± 0.70 mm, p = .034) were found in the robotic system group than in the dynamic navigation group., Conclusions: The position in both immediate and conventional implant placement was more precise with the task-autonomous robotic system than with the dynamic navigation system. Its performance in actual clinical applications should be confirmed in further trials., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: To assess quality, clinical acceptance, time-efficiency, and consistency of a novel artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tool for automated presurgical implant planning for single tooth replacement, compared to a human intelligence (HI)-based approach., Materials and Methods: To validate a novel AI-driven implant placement tool, a dataset of 10 time-matching cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and intra-oral scans (IOS) previously acquired for single mandibular molar/premolar implant placement was included. An AI pre-trained model for implant planning was compared to human expert-based planning, followed by the export, evaluation and comparison of two generic implants-AI-generated and human-generated-for each case. The quality of both approaches was assessed by 12 calibrated dentists through blinded observations using a visual analogue scale (VAS), while clinical acceptance was evaluated through an AI versus HI battle (Turing test). Subsequently, time efficiency and consistency were evaluated and compared between both planning methods., Results: Overall, 360 observations were gathered, with 240 dedicated to VAS, of which 95 % (AI) and 96 % (HI) required no major, clinically relevant corrections. In the AI versus HI Turing test (120 observations), 4 cases had matching judgments for AI and HI, with AI favoured in 3 and HI in 3. Additionally, AI completed planning more than twice as fast as HI, taking only 198 ± 33 s compared to 435 ± 92 s (p < 0.05). Furthermore, AI demonstrated higher consistency with zero-degree median surface deviation (MSD) compared to HI (MSD=0.3 ± 0.17 mm)., Conclusion: AI demonstrated expert-quality and clinically acceptable single-implant planning, proving to be more time-efficient and consistent than the HI-based approach., Clinical Significance: Presurgical implant planning often requires multidisciplinary collaboration between highly experienced specialists, which can be complex, cumbersome and time-consuming. However, AI-driven implant planning has the potential to allow clinically acceptable planning, significantly more time-efficient and consistent than the human expert., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

We evaluated the effect of periosteal-releasing incisions on flap displacement in anterior maxillary sites following implant placement and simultaneously guided bone regeneration. Thirty patients, each requiring a single dental implant and guided bone regeneration in the maxillary esthetic zone, were recruited. After full-thickness flap elevation, the displacement of the flap was measured under a standardized tension of 1 Ncm. Then, a 2-step periosteal releasing incision was placed in the internal aspect of the flap, and the displacement was remeasured using the same standardized tension. Keratinized tissue width and mucosal thickness at the surgical site were recorded. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed at the 7- and 14-day recall visits. Flap displacement (primary outcome) was calculated before and after periosteal-releasing incisions. Multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate the influence of mucosal thickness on flap displacement and adjusted for Keratinized tissue width. Primary wound closure was achieved in all patients. The mean difference in flap coronal displacement before and after the periosteal-releasing incisions was 8.2 mm (p < .0001). Adjusted regression models showed no association between mucosal thickness and keratinized tissue width with the amount of flap displacement (p = .770). Patient-reported outcome measures for pain, swelling, and bleeding amounted to 1.28 ± 1.93, 1.36 ± 1.87, and 0.0 ± 0.0 at 7 days and 0.11 ± 0.57, 0.56 ± 1.03, and 0.0 ± 0.0 at 14 days, respectively. Periosteal-releasing incisions using the 2-step procedure described here are a predictable technique to obtain coronal flap displacements >8 mm without increased surgical complications.

Objectives: The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the inter- and intraindividual variability in virtual single-tooth implant positioning based on the level of expertise, specialty, total time spent, and the use of a prosthetic tooth setup., Materials and Methods: Virtual implant planning was performed on matched pre- and post-extraction intraoral scans (IOS), and cone-beam computed tomography scans of 15 patients. Twelve individual examiners, involving six novices and experts from oral surgery and prosthodontics positioned the implants, first based on anatomical landmarks utilizing only the post-extraction, and second with the use of the pre-extraction IOS as a setup. The time for implant positioning was recorded. After 1 month, all virtual plannings were performed again. The individual implant positions were superimposed to obtain 3D deviations using a software algorithm., Results: An interindividual variability with mean angular, crestal, and apical positional deviations of 3.8 ± 1.94°, 1.11 ± 0.55, and 1.54 ± 0.66 mm, respectively, was found. When assessing intraindividual variability, deviations of 3.28 ± 1.99°, 0.78 ± 0.46, and 1.12 ± 0.61 mm, respectively, were observed. Implants planned by experts exhibited statistically lower deviations compared to those planned by novices. Longer planning times resulted in lower deviations in the experts' group but not in the novices. Oral surgeons demonstrated lower crestal, but not angular and apical deviations than prosthodontists. The use of a setup only led to minor adjustments., Conclusions: Substantial inter- and intraindividual variability exists during implant positioning utilizing specialized software planning. The level of expertise and the time invested influenced the deviations of the implant position during the planning sequence., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: This cohort study aimed to assess the incidence of somatosensory alterations after implant surgery using standardized quantitative and qualitative sensory testing., Methods: 33 participants with single-tooth loss, undergoing immediate implant loading were included. Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) and Qualitative Sensory Testing (QualST) were conducted at eight time points over a year (baseline to 1 year). Two-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test were used on QST values and Cochran Q test on QualST., Results: The study revealed significant increase in thermal thresholds overtime. At the operated side, overall Cold Pain Threshold (extraoral: p = 0.030; intraoral: p < 0.001), and Cold Detection Threshold (intraoral: p < 0.001) increased overtime. In contralateral region, maxilla Cold Detection Threshold (extraoral: p = 0.024; intraoral: p = 0.031), Warm Detection Threshold (extraoral: p = 0.026; intraoral: p = 0.047) and overall Cold Pain Threshold (extraoral and intraoral: p < 0.001) also increased. QualST showed extraoral pinprick (p = 0.032) and intraoral pinprick (p = 0.000), cold (p = 0.000) and touch (p = 0.002) stimuli abnormalities overtime., Conclusions: Somatosensory alterations after implant surgery were detected in both quantitative and qualitative sensory assessments, but rapidly decreased during the first follow-ups, and then continuously until 1-year., Clinical Significance: This study provides clinical and controlled evidence on the real effect of the somatosensory alterations overtime, leading to a better understanding of neurosensory behaviour after single-tooth dental implant rehabilitation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Evaluate the 5-year safety and efficacy of a narrow-diameter (3.0 mm) implant that was immediately provisionalized with a single crown in the maxillary lateral incisor or mandibular central or lateral incisor area., Materials and Methods: An open, prospective, single-cohort, multicenter study was conducted, in which narrow-diameter implants were placed in fresh, healed extraction, or congenitally missing sites. All patients were required to meet strict criteria for immediate loading. The primary endpoints were marginal bone levels (MBL) and MBL changes (MBLC) from implant placement to 5-year follow-up. Secondary endpoints included cumulative 5-year survival and success rates, soft tissue health, and esthetic parameters., Results: A total of 91 implants were placed in 77 patients. The mean MBL remained stable from the 1-year (- 0.79 ± 0.73 mm, n = 75) to 5-year (- 0.74 ± 0.87 mm, n = 65) follow-up. A marginal bone gain of 0.11 ± 0.83 mm was observed from the 1-year to 5-year follow-up. The cumulative 5-year survival rate was 96.5%, and the cumulative 5-year success rate was 93%. The clinical parameters, including the modified plaque index, modified sulcus bleeding index, Jemt's papilla index, and pink esthetic score improved throughout the 5-year study., Conclusions: The study demonstrated that narrow-diameter implants represent a safe and predictable treatment option for subjects suitable for immediate loading and with limited bone volume or limited inter-dental space., Clinical Relevance: Narrow-diameter implants with immediate provisionalization can be considered for use to restore missing or damaged teeth with predictable functional and esthetic outcomes. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02184845)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To investigate the effect of zirconia personalized gingival structure on peri-implant soft and hard tissue stability after single-tooth implant restorations in patients with thin gingival biotypes in the anterior region, with a view to provide a clinical guideline. Methods: This retrospective study included 20 patients with thin gingival biotype and implant restorations in the anterior region. These patients included 9 males and 11 females, and the age was (35.2± 10.3) years. The patients were from the Department of Periodontal Implantology, Stomatology Hospital, Southern Medical University from January 2018 to December 2022. Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) techniques were used to fabricate a titanium base zirconia personalized gingival structure to maintain the soft-tissue perforated gingival contour of the anterior esthetic zone. This structure consists of two modalities: titanium base + zirconia outer crown or titanium base personalized zirconia abutment + zirconia outer crown. Clinical outcomes were recorded immediately and after delivery of the final restorations. Implant retention was recorded, esthetic scoring was performed using the pink esthetic index, the amount of bone resorption at the implant margins was measured based on digitized apical radiographs, and periodontal health was evaluated using the modified plaque index and the modified bleeding index. Results: The survival rate of the 20 implants was 100% after 3 years of wearing the final restorations, with a pink aesthetic score of 9.3±0.9. Bone resorption at the proximal and distal mesial margins of the implants was 0.09 (-0.21, 0.20) mm, 0.17 (-0.12, 0.27) mm after 3 years, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant when compared to bone resorption immediately after placement of the final restoration [0(0, 0) mm] ( Z =-1.03, P =0.394; Z =-2.05, P =0.065). Conclusions: Zirconia personalized gingival structure maintains the stability of peri-implant hard and soft tissues of thin gingival biotypes in the anterior region.

Background: This study aimed to compare the perceived masticatory ability (PrMA) in completely edentulous patients (EDPs) with thermoplastic conventional complete dentures (CDs) versus single implant-retained mandibular overdentures., Methods: The current study was conducted in the outpatient Prosthodontic Clinic, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. PrMA was evaluated in 45 completely edentulous patients (46% males, mean age 50.4 ± 4.7 years). Each patient received a thermoplastic PMMA complete denture (Polyan IC TM Bredent GmbH & Co.KG, Germany). The PrMA was evaluated at one-month and six-month intervals of denture use. An immediate loading single implant was placed into the mid-symphyseal for each patient, and the denture was adjusted. Subsequently, the PrMA was reevaluated after one month and six months. The data were collected and statistically analyzed using the SPSS @ V25 to assess the changes in PrMA., Results: The PrMA demonstrated improvement after six months of thermoplastic conventional denture use. However, this improvement was not statistically significant ( p  = 0.405). In addition, the PrMA showed a substantial increase following a single implant placement at one and six months ( p  < 0.001) of the overdenture use compared to the conventional denture. The PrMA insignificantly improved ( p  = 0.397) after six months of the single implant retained overdenture use., Discussion: The study's findings indicate that using immediate loading single implant-retained mandibular overdentures significantly improved PrMA in completely edentulous patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2024 Fayad et al.)

The socket-shield technique is a clinical procedure aimed at preventing both hard- and soft-tissue collapse following immediate implant placement. The technique can be challenging as multiple factors influence the precision of this treatment. Selective preservation of tooth (SPOT) is a standardized, reproducible tooth-guided preparation protocol for achieving a socket shield and for immediate post-extraction implant site preparation and placement. SPOT emphasizes the utilization of osseodensification burs in both forward (ie, clockwise) rotation, to allow for simultaneous precise root apex removal and shield preparation, and reverse (ie, counterclockwise) rotation, to allow for implant site preparation with further compaction-autografting of bone and dentin, thereby improving implant primary stability and its subsequent early healing. This article presents SPOT in a step-by-step protocol for socket-shield and implant site preparation with immediate post-extraction implant placement. The article describes the stepwise application for single-rooted teeth.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the aesthetic outcomes of metal porcelain (C), lithium disilicate (T1) and porcelain-layered zirconium (T2) immediate implant-supported single crowns in the anterior maxilla., Materials and Methods: Forty-five immediate dental implants were provided for 45 patients that required the extraction of a single tooth in the anterior maxilla. A temporary prosthesis was provided at 8 weeks after placement followed by the final prosthesis at 24 weeks post-implantation. The patients were randomly allocated into 3 groups: 15 patients in the control group (C) received a metal-porcelain restoration, 15 patients (T1) received a lithium disilicate (LD) restoration and 15 patients (T2) received a porcelain-layered, zirconium (Z) restoration. Pink (PES) and White (WES) esthetic scores, radiographic bone levels, periodontal parameters and patient's esthetic satisfaction using a visual analogue scale (VAS) were evaluated at the time of final restoration placement (t0) and at 12-months post-loading (t12)., Results: No implants were lost during the duration of this study. Statistically significant higher WES and VAS scores (p < 0.05) were recorded in T1 vs C and T1 vs T2 groups respectively. Similar radiographic bone levels and periodontal parameters were recorded in all groups., Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that T1 restorations provided better WES outcomes when compared to C restorations and better VAS scores when compared to T2 restorations at 12 months post-loading. Besides, different material interphases did not have an impact in PES, bone levels or periodontal parameters., Clinical Relevance: There is limited data comparing aesthetic outcomes of implant supported single crowns made of different ceramic materials based on accepted and comparable indexes and the evaluation of the patient's perspective regarding these aesthetic outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors do not report any conflict of interest related to the present study., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This systematic review evaluated the occlusal changes after loading with implant-supported single crowns., Sources: An electronic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane library for randomized (RCTs) or non-randomized controlled clinical trials (CCTs), with a minimum of 10 patients., Study Selection: Studies reporting the occlusal force changes on implant-supported single crowns - with natural teeth as antagonist - measured at baseline and after loading periods were included. 4 CCTs including 133 ISCs in posterior sites were included for meta-analysis. All analyzed ISCs had no contact at a light bite and a light contact at a heavy bite in MIP at loading (baseline)., Data: The relative occlusal forces (ROFs) of each implant-supported single crown (ISC) or control tooth (CT) were extracted. ROFs were defined as percentage of the total occlusal force of the entire dentition at maximum intercuspal position (MIP). A meta-analysis was conducted to compare the ROF changes at different follow-up periods and the weighted mean differences in ROF between ISCs and CTs were pooled and analyzed. The amount of change in ROF was significantly lower in 6 to 12 months after loading comparing the follow-up period between baseline and 6 month (p < 0.05). At baseline and 3-month follow-up, CTs presented significant higher ROF than ISCs (p < 0.05), while no significant difference was found after half year following., Conclusions: This study showed that the ROF changes significantly over time after loading of ISCs. It might prove that the occlusal concept defined at the time of prosthetic delivery changes or adapts naturally over time., Clinical Significance: The function of specific implant occlusal concept (no contact at a light bite and a light contact at a heavy bite in MIP) is limited over time and careful monitoring and occlusal adjustments should be recommendable during the first-year follow-up., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of immediate implantation of single maxillary central incisor and explore factors affecting post-implant bone volume., Methods: Clinical data and imaging records from pre-surgery, the day of surgery, and 6 months post-surgery of 100 patients (100 implants) with non-salvageable maxillary central incisors who underwent immediate implantation were collected. Bone thickness at the cervical, middle, and apical regions of the implant's labial and palatal sides were measured immediately post-surgery and at 6 months, and bone volume changes were observed. A regression analysis model was used to assess predictive factors for labial and palatal bone plate thickness., Results: At 6 months post-surgery, the labial bone thicknesses at the cervical, middle, and apical regions were 2.35, 2.29, and 3.28 mm, respectively, and those of the palatal side were 0.00, 2.40, and 6.05 mm, respectively. The cervical region had the highest alveolar crest collapse rates, with 32.87% on the labial side and 62.20% on the palatal side. The regression model indicated that factors influencing the thickness of bone at the cervical labial side of the implant included initial bone thickness, the implant center to adjacent tooth center angle, implant diameter, and the type of implant closure ( P <0.05). The initial bone thickness on the palatal side was the sole predictor for bone thickness on the palatal side ( P <0.05)., Conclusions: Immediate implantation of single maxillary central incisors yields effective clinical results. The thickness of new bone around the implant is influenced by multiple factors. A comprehensive consideration of these factors in the planning of immediate implantation is necessary to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.

Objectives: The present parallel randomized clinical trial aimed to assess, after a 3-year follow-up period, whether the choice of surgical technique-either manual or guided-and of the operator - non-expert operator or skilled - can affect the stability of peri‑implant marginal bone levels in implants placed 1 mm sub-crestal., Materials and Methods: Patients received platform-switched implants (Anyridge, MegaGen Implant Co., Gyeongbuk, South Korea) featuring a 5-degree internal conical connection and supporting single screw-retained fixed crowns. The implants were randomly assigned to be placed through a digitally static guided surgery procedure (Test group - GS) or a freehand surgical technique (Control Group - FH). A non-expert operator (fewer than 20 implants placed in his professional activity) was selected to perform procedures for the GS Group, while a skilled operator (with over 1000 implants placed in his professional activity) was chosen for the FH Group. Marginal bone level (MBL) was measured at prosthesis installation (t0) and at 1 (t1), 2 (t2) and 3 years (t3) of follow-up. Changes in MBL from t0 to t3 were analyzed through periapical radiographs. Moreover, MBL changes at all time points were correlated to different supra-crestal soft tissue heights (STH): less than 3 and ≥ 3 mm, respectively., Results: 60 implants in 18 patients were examined, with 30 implants allocated to the GS group and 30 to the FH group. The difference in MBL change between the two groups was 0.11 ± 0.22 mm, which was not statistically significant (p = 0.61). At the time of prosthetic loading, the mean MBL for implants with STH less than 3 mm was 0.33 mm higher than implants with STH ≥ 3 mm, though this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.065)., Conclusions: Digitally static guided implant placement, performed by a non-expert operator, does not limit marginal bone remodeling, when compared to a freehand procedure performed by an experienced operator., Clinical Significance: After correct and careful planning, early marginal bone levels (MBL) around conical connection, platform-switched implants placed sub-crestally may be stable in time. Digital planning and surgery have the potential to assist non-expert clinicians in achieving implant placements with comparable outcomes to those performed by experts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To present the first clinical application of a novel mixed reality-based dynamic navigation (MR-DN) system in the rehabilitation of a single tooth gap., Methods: The protocol consisted of the following: (1) three-dimensional patient data acquisition using intraoral scanning (IOS) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), (2) implant planning using guided surgery software, (3) holography-guided implant placement using the novel MR-DN system (ANNA®, MARS Dental, Haifa, Israel) and (4) placement accuracy verification., Results: The novel MR-DN system was safe and time-efficient, as the surgery took 30 min from anaesthesia to suturing. The accuracy of implant placement was high with minimal deviations recorded in the three planes of space compared to the presurgical planning: the error at the entry point planar distance (XY) was 0.381 mm, and the entry point planar distance (Z) was 0.173 mm, for a 3D entry point distance (En) of 0.417 mm. A 3D apex deviation (An) of 0.193 mm was registered, with an angle difference of 1.852° Conclusions: This proof-of-concept study demonstrated the clinical feasibility of MR-DN for guided implant placement in single tooth gaps. Further clinical studies on a large sample of patients are needed to confirm these positive preliminary results. Statement of clinical relevance: The use of MR-DN can change the perspectives of guided dental implant surgery as a possible alternative to the classic static and dynamic guided surgical techniques for the rehabilitation of single tooth gaps., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors report no conflict of interest related to the present in vitro study. Dr. Ariel Shusterman is an employee of MARS, but the materials presented in the study belong to all the authors, who have not received any grant or financial support for the preparation of the present research., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to predict the risk of dental implant loss by clustering features associated with implant survival rates., Materials and Methods: Multiple clinical features from 8513 patients who underwent single implant placement were retrospectively analysed. A hybrid method integrating unsupervised learning algorithms with survival analysis was employed for data mining. Two-step cluster, univariate Cox regression, and Kaplan‒Meier survival analyses were performed to identify the clustering features associated with implant survival rates. To predict the risk of dental implant loss, nomograms were constructed on the basis of time-stratified multivariate Cox regression., Results: Six clusters with distinct features and prognoses were identified using two-step cluster analysis and Kaplan‒Meier survival analysis. Compared with the other clusters, only one cluster presented significantly lower implant survival rates, and six specific clustering features within this cluster were identified as high-risk factors, including age, smoking history, implant diameter, implant length, implant position, and surgical procedure. Nomograms were created to assess the impact of the six high-risk factors on implant loss for three periods: 1) 0-120 days, 2) 120-310 days, and 3) more than 310 days after implant placement. The concordance indices of the models were 0.642, 0.781, and 0.715, respectively., Conclusions: The hybrid unsupervised clustering method, which clusters and identifies high-risk clinical features associated with implant loss without relying on predefined labels or target variables, represents an effective approach for developing a visual model for predicting implant prognosis. However, further validation with a multimodal, multicentre, prospective cohort is needed., Clinical Significance: Visual prognosis prediction utilizing this nomogram that predicts the risk of implant loss on the basis of clustering features can assist dentists in preoperative assessments and clinical decision-making, potentially improving dental implant prognosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To assess radiographic, clinical and patient-reported outcomes of single zirconia implant-supported crowns on titanium base abutments (TBA) over a 7.5-year period., Methods: Twenty-four patients received bone-level titanium implants and screw-retained zirconia implant crowns utilising TBA. Marginal bone level (MBL), clinical parameters (probing depth-PD, bleeding on probing-BoP, plaque control record-PCR), technical complications (USPHS criteria) and patient satisfaction were assessed at crown delivery (baseline), 1 year (FU-1) and at 7.5 years (FU-7.5) of follow-up., Results: Eighteen patients were available for re-examination at 7.5 years. The mean MBL at FU-7.5 (0.35 ± 0.20mm) did not significantly change compared to baseline (0.54 ± 0.39, p=.352) and to FU-1 (0.54 ± 0.45mm, p=0.524). From baseline to 7.5 years, the mean PD increased significantly, from 3.0 ± 0.6mm to 3.7 ± 0.8mm (p=0.005). However, BoP and PCR did not significantly change; (BOP: from 27.1 ± 20.7% to 25.0 ± 20.0%, p=0.498; PCR: from 11.1 ± 21.2% to 25.0 ± 25.1%, p=0.100). Nine patients presented with more than one bleeding site. This denoted a peri-implant mucositis prevalence of 50%, whilst none of the implants presented peri-implantitis. One incidence of minor and major ceramic chipping were reported on 2 out of the 18 crowns, resulting in a prosthetic survival rate of 94.4%. Seventeen patients were highly satisfied with their result., Conclusion: Single implant-supported zirconia crowns on TBA displayed: (i) minor number of technical complications, (ii) high prosthetic survival rate, (iii) stable marginal bone level and (iv) high patient satisfaction at 7.5 years., Clinical Implications: Titanium base abutments despite their high use in clinical practice, lacked medium- and long-term studies. The presented findings highlight their clinical performance at 7.5 years as they display satisfying radiographic, clinical and patient-related outcomes. TBA appear to be a suitable abutment choice for medium-term implant-supported restorations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Soft tissue deficiency in a tooth extraction site in the aesthetic area is a common and challenging clinical situation. This case report demonstrates the successful treatment of extensive gingival recession and buccal bone dehiscence associated with a hopeless tooth. Initially, a connective tissue graft was used to cover the root and thicken the soft tissue. After 2 months, the tooth was extracted, an implant was immediately placed, and a temporary restoration was installed. After 3 months, the soft tissue exhibited a natural and harmonious architecture. A custom zirconia abutment and crown were then fabricated and placed. At the 4-year follow-up, the peri-implant tissue displayed satisfactory aesthetics, with a well-structured buccal bone plate and healthy peri-implant indicators. This two-stage approach, addressing gingival recession first and proceeding with immediate implant placement after soft tissue healing, proved to be a safe and effective method with stable long-term results., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of insertion torque, bone type, and peri-implant bone loss on implant stability quotient (ISQ) of cylindrical external hexagon (EH) and Morse Taper (MT) implants. Forty-four single implants were placed in the edentulous areas of 20 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Immediately after implant placement (t1) and after osseointegration (four and six months for mandible and maxilla, respectively) (t2), insertion torque, resonance frequency, and peri-implant bone loss were measured using probing depths and digital periapical radiography. A significant difference was noted in the ISQ values between t1 and t2 in type III bone for EH and MT implants. No significant difference in bone loss values was observed when comparing bone types for EH or MT in all evaluated sites. Based on marginal bone loss assessed using radiography, there was no significant difference between the MT and EH groups. A positive correlation between torque and ISQ t1 value was observed for MT (correlation: 0.439; p = 0.041) and EH (correlation: 0.461; p = 0.031) implants. For EH and MT implants, the greater the insertion torque, the greater was the ISQ value (moderately positive correlation). A weak negative correlation was found between bone type and ISQ t1 for MT implants. Contrarily, no correlation was observed between bone type and ISQ t1 for EH implants. In all cases, bone loss around the implants was clinically normal.

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of immediate and delayed implant placement with bone-level tapered implants., Materials and Methods: In this post-market, multicenter prospective randomized controlled study with a primary endpoint of 1 year, 53 patients were randomized to receive either immediate implant placement (test group) or delayed implant placement (control group). The mean crestal bone level changes from implant loading to 12 months postloading were measured using standardized digital periapical radiographs. Changes in facial plate thickness (as measured on CBCT images), implant success and survival, implant stability, soft tissue changes, patient-centered outcomes, and adverse events were measured to assess outcomes between the test and control treatments at 12 months postloading., Results: Of the original 53 patients, 46 patients completed the study (23 in each group). Mean bone changes from loading to the 12-month follow-up were recorded with no statistically significant difference (P = .950) between the groups. The hypothesis was confirmed that immediate implant placement (test) in extraction sockets produces in similar outcomes as delayed placement (control). The test group was found to be similar to the control group (P = .022) in terms of mean changes in facial plate thickness. Implant survival and success were 95.8% in the test group and 92% in the control group. Stability in the control group was superior at the time of surgery, but there was no difference between the groups at implant loading, producing a nonsignificant P value of .563)., Conclusions: This randomized controlled multicenter study showed comparable outcomes 1 year after prosthetic loading in the immediate and delayed implant placement groups.

Purpose: To evaluate how the crown-to-implant (C/I) ratio affects the loss of crestal bone at single-crown implants and bridges in patients with periodontal disease., Materials and Methods: A total of 39 patients treated for periodontitis were rehabilitated with 108 implant-supported single crowns and bridges. Each patient was examined over a 5- to 20-year period on a 3- to 6-month recall schedule. At each session, we recorded periodontal clinical parameters. In addition, intraoral radiographs were taken after superstructure insertion (baseline) and then at 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years. The study population was divided by anatomical C/I ratio (Group 1: C/I ≤ 1, Group 2: C/I > 1)., Results: Implants had a 96.2% 5-year survival rate and 92.6% 20-year survival rate. The overall prevalence was 10.1% for mucositis and 1.1% for peri-implantitis. The survival rate (P = .68), incidence of mucositis (P = .325), and incidence of peri-implantitis (P = .077) did not significantly differ in the group comparison. The mean annual peri-implant bone loss was 0.09 ± 0.41 mm and was not significantly different between the groups. Mean bone loss was not significantly different until the 10th year of observation, during which Group 2 presented significantly less bone loss. The correlation of annual bone loss and clinical C/I ratio showed a small but significant negative effect throughout the entire study period (R = -0.217; P < .01)., Conclusions: Increased crestal bone loss was not observed with implants with higher C/I ratios, both anatomical and clinical, and they even showed signs of less crestal bone loss.

Objective: To compare and evaluate the clinical esthetic effect of angle screw channel abutment and personalized zirconia adhesive abutment for single crown restoration in esthetic area. Methods: A total of 44 patients (21 males and 23 females), aged (37.4±13.5) years (18-67 years) who completed single crown restoration in the esthetic area of the Department of Oral Implantology, Dalian Stomatological Hospital from January 2018 to June 2022 were retrospectively selected. A total of 44 implants were inserted. According to the abutment selected for final restoration, the patients were divided into angle screw channel abutment group and personalized zirconia bonding abutment group, with 22 patients and 22 implants in each group. The implant survival rate, complication rate, pink and white esthetic score and marginal bone resorption were compared between the two groups. Results: Follow-up to 12 months after final restoration, implant survival rates were 100% (22/22) in both groups, and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of mechanical complications between the two groups [9% (2/22) in the angle screw channel abutment group and 0(0/22) in the personalized zirconia bonding abutment group, χ 2 =2.10, P= 0.148]. In the follow-up appointment 12 months after final restoration, the pink esthetic score of the angle screw channel abutment group (12.95±1.05) was significantly better than that of the personalized zirconia bonding abutment group (11.45±2.02) ( t= 3.10, P= 0.003). There was no significant difference in white esthetic scores between the two groups ( t= 1.27, P= 0.212). There was no significant difference in the marginal bone resorption between the two groups ( t= 0.32, P= 0.749). Conclusions: When a single implant supported restoration is delivered in the esthetic area of the anterior maxilla, high implant survival rate and stability of the marginal bone can be obtained by using the angle screw channel abutment or the personalized zirconia bonding abutment. The clinical efficacy of the angle screw channel system is reliable, and it will provide clinicians with a new treatment option.

Purpose: To explore the influence of gingival biotype and width of keratinized gingiva on peri-implant bone tissue, soft tissue health, and esthetic outcome of the papilla surrounding single posterior maxillary implants., Methods: Seventy-eight patients who underwent single posterior maxillary implant surgery from May 2019 to September 2022 were selected, involving the placement of 78 implants. Based on periodontal probing outcomes one month post-restoration, the patients were divided into thin gingival biotype group(n=32) and thick gingival biotype group(n=46). Comparisons were made six months after implant restoration regarding buccal keratinized mucosa width(KMW), peri-implant bone tissue [implant bone loss(IBL)], soft tissue health [modified plaque index (mPLI), modified bleeding index for implants (mBLI), probing pocket depth (PPD)], and esthetic effect of the papilla [papilla index score (PIS), food impaction, gingival margin color satisfaction index (GMCS)]. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 27.0 software package., Results: The thick gingival biotype group showed significantly greater keratinized gingival width compared to the thin gingival biotype group (P＜0.05). Spearman correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between gingival biotype and keratinized gingival width(r=-0.416, P=0.000). For peri-implant bone tissue, bone loss in the thin gingival biotype group was significantly higher than that in the thick gingival biotype group. In soft tissue health, the probing pocket depth for implants in the thin gingival biotype group was significantly less than that in the thick gingival biotype group. In terms of esthetic effect of the papilla, PES score in the thin gingival biotype group was significantly lower than in the thick gingival biotype group(P＜0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between gingival biotype and papilla index score, GMCS, bleeding on probing, and PPD, but a positive correlation with food impaction, bone loss and mPLI(P＜0.05). The width of keratinized gingiva was positively correlated with papilla index score, GMCS, bleeding on probing and PPD, but negatively correlated with food impaction, bone loss and mPLI(P＜0.05). There was significantly difference between thin and thick gingival biotype groups for KMW >2 mm(P＜0.05). A significant difference was showed in thick gingival biotype group when KMW ≤2 mm and ＞2 mm(P＜0.05)., Conclusions: Gingival biotype and keratinized mucosa width significantly influence peri-implant bone and soft tissue health as well as esthetic outcome of the papilla around single posterior maxillary implants, offering guidance for predicting the long-term success and esthetic outcomes of implants.

Purpose: To assess marginal bone level changes, implant and restoration survival, condition of the peri-implant mucosa, and the patient's satisfaction with the single restoration supported by a 6-mm long implant in the posterior mandible after 10 years in function., Materials and Methods: Twenty-one consecutive patients missing premolars or molars in the posterior mandible, with a bone volume consisting of a width of at least 6 mm and an estimated height of 8 mm between the top of the ridge and alveolar nerve, were included. Each patient received one or more 6-mm implants. After 3 months, the implants were restored with custom-made titanium abutments and cemented zirconia-based porcelain crowns. The clinical examination and radiograph data were assessed at restoration placement and after 12, 60, and 120 months. The patients answered a questionnaire to score their satisfaction before treatment and after 12, 60, and 120 months with the restoration in function., Results: A total of 31 implants were placed. Implant survival was 100%. The 10-year mean marginal bone loss was 0.18 mm (SE: 0.08). The plaque, calculus, gingiva, and bleeding indices scores were low as was the mean pocket probing depth. The patients' satisfaction was high., Conclusion: The 10-year follow-up data of this limited case series study reveal that 6-mm dental implants inserted in the resorbed posterior mandible provide a solid basis for single tooth restorations., (© 2024 The Authors. Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

When edentulism is accompanied by an impacted tooth, conventional treatment usually involves traumatic tooth extraction, which would inevitably destroy the surrounding alveolar bone and cause unfavorable esthetics, especially for anterior teeth. Recently, implant placement through the impacted tooth or residual root has been proposed as an alternative to invasive extraction. A particular type of integration has been observed between dentin/cementum and titanium implant, while enamel-implant contact has not been reported. In this article, an implant was placed through the impacted maxillary central incisor, thereby avoiding an invasive extraction surgery. The buccal section of the tooth, including crown enamel, was retained in situ for buccal alveolar ridge preservation. The follow-up results were satisfactory, and a stable enamel-implant contact was observed. Combining with previous similar studies, this technique opens intriguing possibilities and brings fresh insight for the concept of dentointegration. More histological and clinical studies with long-term follow-up are warranted before endorsing this technique in routine application.

Objectives: This RCT aimed to compare zirconia and titanium dental implants in the maxillary premolar region. The comparison was based on marginal bone level (MBL) changes, clinical parameters, aesthetic outcomes, and patient related outcome measures (PROMs) 1 year after prosthetic loading., Materials and Methods: Fifty patients were randomly assigned to receive either a zirconia (ZrO 2 , n = 25) implant or a titanium (Ti, n = 25) bone-level implant. Implants were provided with a lithium disilicate crown 3 months after placement. Follow-up was at 1 month and after 1 year. The primary outcome pertained to changes in MBL. Reported secondary outcomes consisted of implant survival, peri-implant tissue health, aesthetics, and PROMs., Results: Mean MBL change after 1 year was 0.01 mm (SD = 0.45; min = 0.72, max = 0.86) for ZrO 2 and -0.09 mm (SD = 0.34; min = 0.53, max = -1.06) for Ti (p = .439). Scores for the other clinical outcome parameters and PROMs were generally favorable, with no significant differences. However, significant differences were found for the aesthetic outcomes regarding two criteria: (a) level of facial mucosa (p = .022), in favor of Ti, and (b) root convexity/soft tissue color and texture (p = .005) in favor of ZrO 2 ., Conclusion and Clinical Implications: The ZrO 2 and Ti implant types used in this study, replacing a single missing maxillary premolar, show a comparable outcome in terms of MBL change after 1 year. Clinical and aesthetic parameters, as well as PROMs, are favorable and similar between both implant types after 1 year of prosthetic loading. These short-term study results suggest that both are suitable for clinical use., (© 2024 The Authors. Clinical Oral Implants Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aim: To compare the marginal bone level of immediately placed implants, with either immediate or delayed provisionalization (IP or DP), in the maxillary aesthetic zone after 10 years of function., Materials and Methods: Participants with a failing tooth in the maxillary aesthetic zone were randomly assigned to immediate implant placement with either IP (n = 20) or DP (n = 20) after primary wound closure with a free gingival graft. The final restoration was placed 3 months after provisionalization. The primary outcome was change in marginal bone level. In addition, implant survival, restoration survival and success, peri-implant tissue health, mucosa levels, aesthetic indices, buccal bone thickness and patient satisfaction were evaluated., Results: After 10 years, the mean mesial and distal changes in marginal bone level were -0.47 ± 0.45 mm and -0.49 ± 0.52 mm in the IP group and -0.58 ± 0.76 mm and -0.41 ± 0.72 mm in the DP group (p = .61; p = .71). The survival rate was 100% for the implants; for the restorations, it was 88.9% in the IP group and 87.5% in the DP group. Restoration success, according to modified USPHS criteria, was 77.8% in the IP group and 75.0% in the DP group. The prevalence of peri-implant mucositis was 38.9% and 35.7% and of peri-implantitis 0.0% and 6.3%, respectively, in the IP group and DP group (p = 1.0; p = .40). The Pink Esthetic Score and White Esthetic Score was 15.28 ± 2.32 in the IP group and 14.64 ± 2.74 in the DP group, both clinically acceptable (p = .48). The buccal bone thickness was lower in the DP group. Patient satisfaction was similar in both groups (p = .75)., Conclusions: The mean marginal bone level changes after immediate implant placement with IP were similar to those after immediate placement with DP., Clinical Trial Registration: Registered in the National Trial Register (NL9340)., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Periodontology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: To compare immediate implant placement (IIP) with early implant placement (EIP) for single tooth replacement in the aesthetic area in terms of aesthetic, clinical, and patient-reported outcomes., Materials and Methods: Two independent reviewers conducted an electronic literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases as well as a manual search to identify eligible clinical studies up to February 2023. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) comparing IIP with EIP were included for a qualitative and quantitative analysis. The primary outcome was vertical midfacial soft tissue change. Secondary outcomes were horizontal midfacial soft tissue change, vertical papillary change, pink esthetic score (PES), implant survival, buccal bone thickness, marginal bone level change, patient discomfort, chair time, and patient satisfaction., Results: Out of 1185 records, 6 RCTs were selected, reporting on 222 patients who received 222 single implants (IIP: 112 implants in 112 patients; EIP: 110 implants in 110 patients) in the anterior maxilla or mandible. Patients had a mean age ranging from 35.6 to 52.6 years and were followed between 8 and 24 months. Two RCTs showed some concerns, and four showed a high risk of bias. Four studies could be included in a meta-analysis on the primary outcome and three only considered cases with an intact buccal bone wall. Meta-analysis failed to demonstrate a significant difference in terms of vertical midfacial soft tissue change between IIP and EIP (mean difference: 0.31 mm, 95% CI [-0.23; 0.86], p = .260; I 2  = 83%, p < .001). No significant differences were found for PES (standardized mean difference: 0.92, 95% CI [-0.23; 2.07], p = .120; I 2  = 89%, p < .001), implant survival (RR: 0.98, 95% CI [0.93, 1.03], p = .480; I 2  = 0%, p = .980), and marginal bone level change (mean difference: 0.03 mm, 95% CI [-0.12, 0.17], p = .700; I 2  = 0%, p = .470). Insufficient data were available for meta-analyses of other secondary outcomes., Conclusion: In low-risk patients with an intact buccal bone wall, there seems to be no difference between IIP and EIP in terms of aesthetic and clinical outcomes. The strength of this conclusion is rated as low since studies showed an unclear or high risk of bias. In addition, state-of-the-art therapy was only delivered in a minority of studies. Future RCTs should also provide data on patient-reported outcomes since these have been underreported., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of restorative materials with or without resin content, modeled on zirconia and titanium abutment materials, on the stress distribution on the alveolar bone, implant, and prosthetic crowns with a 3D finite element stress analysis., Material and Methods: Titanium and zirconia abutments were combined with three implant-supported crown materials (polymer infiltrated hybrid ceramic (PICN), lithium disilicate (LD), and zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS)) to create six experimental groups. The 40 × 30 × 20 mm alveolar bone, 3.75 × 10 mm implant, esthetic abutment, and maxillary first premolar crown bonded over the abutment were the components of the finite element models. On the lingual cusp of the crown, the 150 N occlusal loading was applied in the buccolingual direction at a 30° angle. Equivalent von Mises stress and maximum and minimum principal stresses were used for both the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the stress distribution of the created models., Results: The von Mises stress in implant and abutment did not differ according to the crown materials. The use of a zirconia abutment resulted in higher von Mises stress values in the abutment but lower stress values in the implant. The highest stress values were obtained in ZLS (196.65 MPa) and LD (194.05 MPa) crowns. The use of titanium abutments, regardless of crown materials, resulted in higher von Mises stress values in restorative crowns than in zirconia abutments. The principal stress values in alveolar bone showed similar distribution and concentration in all models., Conclusions: Changes in crown material did not affect stress distribution in the implant and peripheral bone. However, the zirconia esthetic abutment resulted in a lower stress concentration on the implant., (© 2023 by the American College of Prosthodontists.)

Objectives: The primary aim was to investigate survival rate of zirconia versus metal abutments, and the secondary aim was clinical outcomes of all-ceramic versus metal-ceramic crowns on single-tooth implants., Methods: Patients with tooth-agenesis participated to previously published prospective clinical study with 3-year follow-up were recalled after 5 years. Biological variables included survival and success rate of implants, marginal bone level, modified Plaque and Sulcus Bleeding Index and biological complications. Technical variables included restoration survival rate, marginal adaptation and technical complications. The aesthetic outcome of crowns and peri-implant mucosa in addition to patient-reported outcome were recorded. Descriptive analysis, linear mixed model for quantitative data, or generalized linear mixed model for ordinal categorical data were applied; significance was set to 0.05., Results: Fifty-three patients (mean age: 32.4 years), with 89 implants participated to the 5-years examination. The implants supported 50 zirconia abutments with 50 all-ceramic (AC) crown and 39 metal abutments with 29 metal-ceramic (MC) and 10 AC crowns. The Implant and restoration survival rate was 100% and 96%, respectively. No clinically relevant biological difference between implants supporting metal or zirconia abutments was registered. The technical complications were veneering fracture of AC-crowns (n = 3), crown loosening of MC-crowns (n = 4) and one abutment screw loosening (MC-crown on metal abutment). MC-crowns had significantly better marginal adaptation than AC-crowns (p = .01). AC-crowns had significantly better color and morphology than MC-crowns (p = .01)., Conclusions: Zirconia-based single-tooth restorations are reliable alternative materials to metal-based restorations with favorable biological and aesthetic outcome, and few technical complications., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)