Search

In this study, we aimed to investigate the differences in tissue surface adaptation and the variations in distances between reference points on the polished surfaces of 3D-printed denture bases produced at different build angles. The build angles were 0°, 30°, 60°, and 90°, with 15 denture bases printed for each angle. Using the Geomagic Control® software, a 3D best-fit alignment was conducted between the denture base tissue surface and the reference shape of the edentulous maxilla model to calculate the root mean square error. The distances between reference points on the polished surface were measured using digital calipers. A one-way analysis of variance was conducted for statistical analysis. The adaptation, as measured by the root mean square error, varied significantly among denture bases with different build angles. The distances between the anterior and posterior reference points of the polished surface were also significantly different. However, within the limitations of this study, the variations in adaptations and dimensional accuracy across different build angles were within clinically acceptable ranges. In clinical practice, the print angle can be adjusted based on factors such as printing time, resin consumption, and the number of denture bases being printed simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The improvement of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is a crucial aspect of prosthodontic treatment. This study aims to compare the OHRQoL of patients using conventional dentures versus implant-supported overdentures. Materials and Methods A total of 30 edentulous patients from Bhagalpur District, Bihar, participated in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A (n=15) received conventional dentures, and Group B (n=15) received implant-supported overdentures. The OHRQoL was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months post-treatment. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and ANOVA to evaluate the differences within and between groups over time. Results At baseline, the mean OHIP-14 score for Group A was 28.5 ± 4.2, and for Group B was 27.8 ± 3.9, indicating no significant difference (p>0.05). At 3 months, Group A showed a mean score of 22.3 ± 3.5, while Group B had a significantly lower mean score of 15.7 ± 2.8 (p<0.01). At 6 months, the scores further improved, with Group A at 18.9 ± 3.1 and Group B at 10.2 ± 2.4, indicating a highly significant difference (p<0.001). The implant-supported overdenture group consistently reported better OHRQoL scores across all time points. Conclusion The study concluded that implant-supported overdentures significantly enhance the oral health-related quality of life compared to conventional dentures over a 6 to 9 months period The implant-supported group showed substantial improvements in comfort, function, and overall satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Edentulism remains a major disability worldwide, especially among the elderly population, although the prevalence of complete edentulism has declined over the last decades. In Uganda, the prevalence of edentulism in people aged 20 years and above is 1.8%. The therapy for edentulous patients can be realized through the use of conventional removable complete dentures, implant-supported prostheses, and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CADCAM), however, the provision of removable complete dentures continues to be the predominant rehabilitation for edentulous patients. However, no published study has explored the lived experiences with removable complete dentures among the Ugandan population. The aim of the present study was to explore patients’ lived experiences on the usage of removable complete dentures among Ugandan edentulous patients attending Makerere University Dental Hospital. Methods This was a qualitative study approach using purposive sampling. Fifteen (15) respondents were selected across social demographics. Interviews were recorded and transcribed and themes were generated to draw a deeper meaning to the usage of removable complete dentures. A qualitative statistical package, Atlas Ti software was used to generate themes from the interviews followed by an interpretation of the generated data and the results were presented as text and in a table. Results The reported key positive experiences due to removable complete denture rehabilitation were the improvement in speech, eating ability, regaining good facial appearance, better oral hygiene management, self-esteem and confidence to smile in public, and a feeling of completeness. However, respondents complained of pain and discomfort due to the looseness of dentures, inability to eat certain foods, and regular cleaning of dentures. The respondents did not go through proper informed consent processes before getting removable complete dentures. Conclusion The study found that patients were satisfied with their removable complete dentures rehabilitation due to the positive experiences registered, such as the ability to eat and talk well, and restoration of self-esteem, all of which improved their quality of life. However, they experience pain and discomfort due to the looseness of dentures.

Background: Edentulism remains a major disability worldwide, especially among the elderly population, although the prevalence of complete edentulism has declined over the last decades. In Uganda, the prevalence of edentulism in people aged 20 years and above is 1.8%. The therapy for edentulous patients can be realized through the use of conventional removable complete dentures, implant-supported prostheses, and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CADCAM), however, the provision of removable complete dentures continues to be the predominant rehabilitation for edentulous patients. However, no published study has explored the lived experiences with removable complete dentures among the Ugandan population. The aim of the present study was to explore patients' lived experiences on the usage of removable complete dentures among Ugandan edentulous patients attending Makerere University Dental Hospital. Methods: This was a qualitative study approach using purposive sampling. Fifteen (15) respondents were selected across social demographics. Interviews were recorded and transcribed and themes were generated to draw a deeper meaning to the usage of removable complete dentures. A qualitative statistical package, Atlas Ti software was used to generate themes from the interviews followed by an interpretation of the generated data and the results were presented as text and in a table. Results: The reported key positive experiences due to removable complete denture rehabilitation were the improvement in speech, eating ability, regaining good facial appearance, better oral hygiene management, self-esteem and confidence to smile in public, and a feeling of completeness. However, respondents complained of pain and discomfort due to the looseness of dentures, inability to eat certain foods, and regular cleaning of dentures. The respondents did not go through proper informed consent processes before getting removable complete dentures. Conclusion: The study found that patients were satisfied with their removable complete dentures rehabilitation due to the positive experiences registered, such as the ability to eat and talk well, and restoration of self-esteem, all of which improved their quality of life. However, they experience pain and discomfort due to the looseness of dentures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dental implants are an effective treatment option for edentulism, which poses a substantial barrier to oral health. The quality of the bone at the implant site may have an impact on the outcome of implant therapy. The purpose of this retrospective investigation was to assess implant survival rates and problems in individuals who were edentulous and had varying forms of bone. Methods: Patients who were edentulous and had dental implants placed between 2020 and 2022 were included. Preoperative radiographic examination was used to establish the kind of bone, which was then used to analyze implant survival rates and problems. A statistical study was carried out to compare the results between various bone kinds. Findings: The analysis comprised 225 edentulous patients in total. The implant survival rates varied according to the kind of bone; kind 1 bone had the highest survival rate (94.0%), while Type 4 bone had the lowest (75.0%). As bone quality declined, so did the incidence of complications such as peri-implantitis, implant movement, and implant breakage. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study emphasizes how important bone type is for implant survival rates and issues in edentulous individuals. Comprehending these correlations is essential for enhancing therapeutic results and directing clinical judgment in implant therapy.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the differences in tissue surface adaptation and the variations in distances between reference points on the polished surfaces of 3D-printed denture bases produced at different build angles. The build angles were 0°, 30°, 60°, and 90°, with 15 denture bases printed for each angle. Using the Geomagic Control® software, a 3D best-fit alignment was conducted between the denture base tissue surface and the reference shape of the edentulous maxilla model to calculate the root mean square error. The distances between reference points on the polished surface were measured using digital calipers. A one-way analysis of variance was conducted for statistical analysis. The adaptation, as measured by the root mean square error, varied significantly among denture bases with different build angles. The distances between the anterior and posterior reference points of the polished surface were also significantly different. However, within the limitations of this study, the variations in adaptations and dimensional accuracy across different build angles were within clinically acceptable ranges. In clinical practice, the print angle can be adjusted based on factors such as printing time, resin consumption, and the number of denture bases being printed simultaneously.

A flabby ridge is an area of mobile soft tissue found superficially, which affects both maxillary and mandibular alveolar ridges. It is a common finding in long term denture wearers, where the rate of bone resorption is very fast leading to development of hyperplastic soft tissue over the alveolar bone. Fabricating a denture over the flabby ridge poses a problem to the dentist because masticatory forces can displace this mobile denture-bearing tissue, leading to altered denture positioning and loss of peripheral seal. Forces exerted during the act of impression making can result in distortion of the mobile tissue leading to ill-fitting dentures. All these factors compromise the retention, stability, and support of the complete denture. This paper presents a case report for a patient with Kelly’s Combination Syndrome, wherein, an innovative impression technique was used to record the flabby ridges during the process of denture construction. The resultant denture was more comfortable for the patient and did not exert undue pressure over the hypermobile tissues.

Copyright of International Journal of Computerized Dentistry is the property of Quintessence Publishing Company Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: This study aims to show the clinical outcomes of implants supporting mandibular overdentures in edentulous patients. Methods: Mandibular edentulous patients were diagnosed with an oral examination, panoramic radiograph, and diagnostic casts for intermaxillary relations and treated with overdentures over two implants. After two-stage surgery, implants were early loaded with an overdenture at 6 weeks. Results: Fifty-four patients (28 females and 24 males) were treated with 108 implants. Thirty-two patients (59.2%) had a previous history of periodontitis. Twenty-three patients (46%) were smokers. Forty patients (74.1%) suffered from systemic diseases (i.e., diabetes, cardiovascular diseases). The clinical follow-up of the study was 147.8 ± 10.4 months. The clinical outcomes showed a global success of 94.5% of implants. Fifty-four overdentures were placed in the patients over the implants. The mean marginal bone loss was 1.12 ± 0.34 mm. Nineteen patients (35.2%) showed some kind of mechanical prosthodontic complication. Sixteen implants (14.8%) were associated with peri-implantitis. Conclusions: Based on the clinical results obtained, we can determine that the treatment of elderly edentulous patients with mandibular overdentures through the early loading of two placed implants is a successful implant protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate, through a systematic review of the literature, the published data regarding marginal bone loss, implant failure proportion, biologic and prosthetic complications, and risk factors associated with short (≤ 8 mm) implants supporting fixed or removable full-arch restorations in the edentulous mandible. Materials and Methods: Two reviewers performed a search of five databases, with handsearching through the reference lists and gray literature. Controlled clinical trials and prospective cohort studies were selected in a two-phase process. The data were independently gathered by the same two reviewers. Quality assessment of the studies was done using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions for Randomized Clinical Trials and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for Prospective Cohort Studies. Marginal bone loss and implant failure proportion were meta-analyzed using random and fixed-effects models, respectively, with 95% confidence intervals. A descriptive analysis was performed of the prevalence of biologic and prosthetic complications. Meta-regression analysis was run as fixed-effect models for risk factors. Results: Six studies met the eligibility criteria and had data extracted. A total of 291 short implants (lengths 5 to 8 mm) were placed in 122 patients (82 women; mean age, 64.7 ± 10.8 years) supporting 23 fixed and 99 removable full-arch restorations. The pooled marginal bone loss overall was 0.12 mm (0.07 to 0.17 mm). Marginal bone loss for fixed full-arch restorations was 0.11 mm (0.01 to 0.21 mm) and for removable full-arch restorations was 0.14 mm (0.07 to 0.21 mm). The pooled overall implant failure proportion was 2.0% (1.0% to 5.0%) for the studies. Implant failure proportion for fixed and removable restorations was 2.0% with confidence intervals of 0.0% to 9% and 0.0% to 6%, respectively. The prevalence of prosthetic complications was 34.5% for fixed restorations and 2.6% for removable restorations. No biologic complications were found for fixed restorations, while 13.1% of removable restorations did have biologic complications. Risk factors did not demonstrate statistical differences regarding implant failure proportion and marginal bone loss. All included studies demonstrated a high methodologic quality. Conclusion: Findings from this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that full-arch restorations supported by short implants in atrophic edentulous mandibles might be a viable treatment option, presenting minimal marginal bone loss and implant failure in the short term. However, further well-performed prospective clinical trials with long-term observation are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Edentulism is a state of having no teeth in the oral cavity, an irreversible condition popularly known as the marker of disease burden on the oral health. For edentulous patients (EDPs) Complete Denture Prostheses (CDP) is a means to improve oral health. Due to limited studies in this area, this research aimed to explore the challenges faced by the EDPs during CDP service delivery in Fiji. Methods A directed descriptive qualitative study was conducted among EDPs attending Dental Prosthetic Clinics (DPCs) at the four centres in Fiji under purposive sampling. A semi-structured questionnaire with open ended questions was used for in-depth interview with EDPs who had worn CDP for 1 year via telephone. Participant responses were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed manually using thematic analysis. Results A total of 30 EDPs participated in the study. Six themes were identified as challenges faced by the EDPs during CDP service delivery in Fiji: lack of information, non-compliance, overwhelmed by illness, reduction on quality of life (QoL) financial barriers to CDP treatment care and personal acceptance. 77% of EDPs felt they did not receive adequate information on CDP when attending DPCs which indicated the non-compliance nature irrespective of using and cleaning CDP on a daily basis. The Dental Professionals (DPs) at the DPCs gave their full support in attending to the CDP challenges faced by the EDPs in Fiji during the review clinics. Conclusion The EDPs expressed a variety of challenges that was faced while seeking appropriate CDP services in Fiji. The findings demonstrate the need to explore approaches to develop patients’ engagement practices during CDP service delivery by the Dental professionals (DPs), which leads to effective oral health promotion in Fiji for CDP wearers.

Abstract Background Facial ageing is a result of superficial wrinkling combined with changes to the underlying soft tissues and skeleton. The influence of tooth loss, as a geriatric characteristic, on facial appearance is still poorly explained. The aim was to evaluate the facial characteristics of older adults, correlate these characteristics with the dentition and make comparisons with young adults using a non-invasive 3D methodology. Methods 90 participants older than 65 years, classified into 3 subgroups (edentulous, partially edentulous, toothed) and 30 young adults were evaluated. Their faces were scanned with an optical Artec 3D-scanner. Cephalometric analyses were made using the RapidForm computer program. An independent t-test and ANOVA were used for the comparisons. Pairwise, post-hoc tests were applied with respect to the significant differences (P

Introduction: Elderly individuals, with or without full dentures, have often been offered probiotics to aid with digestion. An increase in saliva production due to the use of probiotics is noted. Therefore, it was decided to conduct this research to determine the effects of probiotics on the quantity and pH of saliva in patients who are entirely denture-free after 60 days of use. Aim: The goal of this study is to evaluate whether or not probiotic supplementation causes an increase in saliva production in edentulous individuals. Methods: Patients with missing teeth were used in the research. The pH was measured after collecting baseline amounts and baseline amounts of both unstimulated and stimulated saliva. Then, once a day for 60 days, patients took capsules containing probiotics at 3.3 107 CFU/g. Patients' saliva was collected, and its volume and pH were determined for comparison to the initial measurements. Results: After 60 days of taking probiotics, the average amount of saliva, both unstimulated and stimulated, is higher than it was at the beginning of the study. P <0.001 indicates a statistically significant difference. After 60 days, the mean pH was somewhat higher than it had been at the start (0.010). Conclusion: Those with xerostomia or hyposalivation may benefit from taking probiotics, as this study found that they increased saliva production in patients who were completely edentulous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to individualize the classical versus digital therapeutic methods of prosthetics, anchored in partially removable prosthetics with metallic or non-metallic infrastructure. The detection by clinical and paraclinical methods of the whole range of post-edentulous complications constitutes an essential condition of targeted therapy but also a starting point for the rigorous selection of the dental materials involved and the requirements related to the rendering of a high fidelity morphology grafted on the particularities of the clinical case.For greater precision in the clinical-technological algorithm of partially extended edentulousness rehabilitation, digital models were also recorded.Modern techniques and technologies of intraoral scanning and digital design of the therapeutic solution contribute significantly to the development of a high-performance clinical-technological algorithm, oral scanning eliminates many of the classical steps of making the prosthesis and provides greater accuracy of recording impressions, and digital designs will eliminate the classical step of casting models avoiding changes that can occur through contact reactions of the plaster.

Background and purpose: Occlusal plane in edentulous patients is lost and needs to be reconstructed. The most common method for reconstructing occlusal plane is to make it parallel to the ala-tragus line. There are disagreements about the posterior reference of ala-tragus line. The aim of this study was to determine the best posterior reference of ala-tragus line (superior, middle and anterior references) for reconstructing occlusal plane. Materials and methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 150 dentate patients with class I relationship enrolled. Patients were placed 1.5 meters from the camera and their head was in NHP mode and symmetrical to the line perpendicular to the horizon. Fox-plane was placed in contact with central incisors and first molars of maxilla and imaging was performed from the right side of the face. The angles required were then measured using AutoCAD 2020. Results: There were 75 male and 75 female patients (mean age= 23.05±1.69 years) and the mean OT1-OP angle was 8.75, which was the closest to the mean OT1-AT3 angle (8.85). This finding also was repeated in both men and women. Among all patients, OT1-AT3 angle was found to have the highest proximity to the occlusal plane (61. 33%), 53.34% in men and 69.33% in women. Conclusion: Inferior point on the tragus of the ear in ala-tragus is the best reference for reconstructing the occlusal plane during construction of a removable denture for male and female edentulous patients.

Background/aim Implant-supported prostheses proved to solve a lot of problems and difficulties associated with edentulism, yet some complications continued to appear after using the different modalities of implant-supported prostheses, so this study aimed to count and analyze the possible prosthetic and biological complications of implant-retained fixed versus removable overdentures. Patients and methods The study was conducted on 22 completely edentulous patients selected from the Outpatient Clinic of Prosthodontic Department, Faculty of Oral & Dental Medicine, Badr University, Egypt. They were distributed randomly into two groups: group I received implant telescopic overdentures, group II received fixed detachable screw-retained implant-supported prostheses, and prosthetic and biological complications were evaluated after 1, 3, and 6 months. Results The present results indicated that Χ2 test was performed for significance evaluation between both groups in biological and prosthetic complications. In biological complications, it revealed a significant difference in relining after 6 months between both groups as P value less than 0.05. While for prosthetic complications, there was a significant difference between both groups in tooth wear and tooth separation after 6 months as P value less than 0.05. Conclusion Regarding prosthetic complications, telescopic overdenture showed a higher incidence than hybrid fixed screw-retained screw looseness and screw fracture. Regarding biological complications, telescopic overdenture showed the same incidence as hybrid fixed screw-retained implant looseness with a higher incidence of denture relining and lower incidence in peri-implant mucositis.

Introduction: Effective communication can aid in improving oral healthcare measures such as treatment outcomes and satisfaction of edentulous patients (EDPs) toward the treatment process. The triangle of communication (ToC) involves communication between the dentist, dental technician (DTech), and EDPs. This research aimed to explore the ToC between dental professionals (DPs) and patients undergoing complete denture prostheses (CDP) treatment in Fiji. Materials and Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted among DPs under purposive sampling where focus group discussions were conducted at the four dental prosthetic clinics in Fiji. A semi-structured questionnaire with open-ended questions was applied to participants virtually via Zoom. The collected data were collated and analyzed manually using thematic analysis. Results: A total of 28 DPs participated in the study. Three themes were identified while exploring the ToC from DPs' perspectives on CDP treatment and care in Fiji: staff communication—dentist and DTech, ToC and information sharing (dentist–DTech and EDPs), and stage-by-stage procedural checks for CDP between DPs. Effective collaboration between dentists and DTechs is an essence of a successful CDP treatment outcome. Most DPs agreed to undergo continuous communication throughout the treatment to keep EDPs engaged throughout the treatment process. In addition, stage-by-stage procedural checks in dental clinics as well as in dental laboratories improved the quality of CDPs. Conclusion: DPs highlighted predominantly the ToC between DPs and EDPs when receiving CDP treatment in Fiji as an essential tool for effective DP and patient engagement. Discussions should be complemented with the use of verbal, nonverbal, and written modes together with the utilization of interpreters to improve CDP treatment and care in Fiji. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edentulism, the loss of all the natural teeth, significantly impacts a patient's functional, aesthetic, and psychological well-being. Traditional dentures often fail to provide the required stability and functionality. Implant-supported full-mouth rehabilitation has emerged as an advanced solution, leveraging strategically placed dental implants to support fixed prostheses that mimic natural teeth in appearance and function. This case report details the comprehensive treatment of a 78-year-old male patient with complete edentulism, utilizing six implants in both the maxillary and mandibular arches. Following a five-month healing period, a series of precise prosthetic procedures, including abutment-level impressions, custom tray fabrication, and implant-level impressions, were performed to ensure optimal fit and functionality. The final prostheses provided significant improvements in masticatory efficiency, speech, and overall quality of life. The report underscores the transformative potential of implant-supported rehabilitation, highlighting high success rates, patient satisfaction, and the multifaceted benefits of restoring oral function and aesthetics with advanced dental technologies., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Debbarma et al.)

Background: Facial ageing is a result of superficial wrinkling combined with changes to the underlying soft tissues and skeleton. The influence of tooth loss, as a geriatric characteristic, on facial appearance is still poorly explained. The aim was to evaluate the facial characteristics of older adults, correlate these characteristics with the dentition and make comparisons with young adults using a non-invasive 3D methodology.Methods: 90 participants older than 65 years, classified into 3 subgroups (edentulous, partially edentulous, toothed) and 30 young adults were evaluated. Their faces were scanned with an optical Artec 3D-scanner. Cephalometric analyses were made using the RapidForm computer program. An independent t-test and ANOVA were used for the comparisons. Pairwise, post-hoc tests were applied with respect to the significant differences (P < 0.05).Results: The faces of older adults are wider and longer because of the longer middle facial height. Older adults also have a longer upper lip, a larger nose, a smaller nasolabial angle (due to the nasal ptosis), narrower upper- and lower-lip vermilions and larger facial and lower-facial-height angles, resulting in a flat facial profile. The facial changes due to ageing are the most pronounced in the edentulous. In comparison with the toothed, they have a smaller facial height due to the smaller lower facial height, larger nasolabial angle, smaller mouth width, shorter upper lip and narrower lip vermilions. Their profile is flatter and their lips are more retruded.Conclusions: The proportions of the whole face are changed in older adults and they are the most expressed when this is combined with tooth loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Edentulism is a state of having no teeth in the oral cavity, an irreversible condition popularly known as the marker of disease burden on the oral health. For edentulous patients (EDPs) Complete Denture Prostheses (CDP) is a means to improve oral health. Due to limited studies in this area, this research aimed to explore the challenges faced by the EDPs during CDP service delivery in Fiji.Methods: A directed descriptive qualitative study was conducted among EDPs attending Dental Prosthetic Clinics (DPCs) at the four centres in Fiji under purposive sampling. A semi-structured questionnaire with open ended questions was used for in-depth interview with EDPs who had worn CDP for 1 year via telephone. Participant responses were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed manually using thematic analysis.Results: A total of 30 EDPs participated in the study. Six themes were identified as challenges faced by the EDPs during CDP service delivery in Fiji: lack of information, non-compliance, overwhelmed by illness, reduction on quality of life (QoL) financial barriers to CDP treatment care and personal acceptance. 77% of EDPs felt they did not receive adequate information on CDP when attending DPCs which indicated the non-compliance nature irrespective of using and cleaning CDP on a daily basis. The Dental Professionals (DPs) at the DPCs gave their full support in attending to the CDP challenges faced by the EDPs in Fiji during the review clinics.Conclusion: The EDPs expressed a variety of challenges that was faced while seeking appropriate CDP services in Fiji. The findings demonstrate the need to explore approaches to develop patients' engagement practices during CDP service delivery by the Dental professionals (DPs), which leads to effective oral health promotion in Fiji for CDP wearers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE. Masticatory loading triggers active bone remodeling, altering alveolar bone mineral density (BMD). While dental implants are placed to bear masticatory loading, their influence on changing bone properties has not been fully investigated. Objective of this pilot study was to examine whether the dental implantation has an effect on BMD distribution of bone by comparing dentate, edentulous, and edentulous patients with implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 19 partially edentulous patients (Dent), 19 edentulous patients (Edent), and 16 edentulous patients who received implants in the mandible (Edent+Im), were obtained. CBCT images were also obtained from 5 patients within Edent+Im group, before implant placement and after implant loading. Basal cortical bone region of the mandible was digitally isolated. A histogram of gray levels proportional to BMD was obtained to assess mean, histogram standard deviation (HSD), fifth percentile of low and high values (Low5 and High5) of the BMD distribution. Multivariate analysis of variance and paired t-test were used to compare the BMD parameters among the 3 dental status groups and between pre- and post-implantation, respectively. RESULTS. Edentulous patients with implants had significantly greater HSD and High5 values compared to edentulous patients ( P < .013). All other comparisons were not significant ( P > .097). Mean, HSD, and High5 values significantly increased after receiving implants ( P < .022). CONCLUSION. The current findings suggested that receiving dental implants promoted oral bone mineralization for edentulous patients. The longitudinal investigation could provide valuable information on understanding the effects of implantation on the behavior of oral bone quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Occlusal plane in edentulous patients is lost and needs to be reconstructed. The most common method for reconstructing occlusal plane is to make it parallel to the ala-tragus line. There are disagreements about the posterior reference of ala-tragus line. The aim of this study was to determine the best posterior reference of ala-tragus line (superior, middle and anterior references) for reconstructing occlusal plane. Materials and methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 150 dentate patients with class I relationship enrolled. Patients were placed 1.5 meters from the camera and their head was in NHP mode and symmetrical to the line perpendicular to the horizon. Fox-plane was placed in contact with central incisors and first molars of maxilla and imaging was performed from the right side of the face. The angles required were then measured using AutoCAD 2020. Results: There were 75 male and 75 female patients (mean age= 23.05±1.69 years) and the mean OT1-OP angle was 8.75, which was the closest to the mean OT1-AT3 angle (8.85). This finding also was repeated in both men and women. Among all patients, OT1-AT3 angle was found to have the highest proximity to the occlusal plane (61. 33%), 53.34% in men and 69.33% in women. Conclusion: Inferior point on the tragus of the ear in ala-tragus is the best reference for reconstructing the occlusal plane during construction of a removable denture for male and female edentulous patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bacteria can enter the bloodstream through simple actions such as brushing teeth, flossing, and even chewing food, increasing the chance of hematogenous seeding of prosthetic joints. Antibiotics before dental work in patients with orthopedic hardware is a topic of debate because of concerns for antibiotic resistance. Patients with dentures theoretically avoid this risk due to the lack of teeth and their maintenance. Most periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) that occur in the first six months after surgery are due to wound infection, whereas late PJIs are more commonly caused by hematogenous seeding., Materials and Methods: Charts from patients who received primary total joint arthroplasty were interrogated for the condition of their teeth at the time of operation. If the patient had a PJI, the time from surgery and the organism responsible were noted. Multivariate linear regressions were performed for statistical analysis to compare rates of dental status, infection, comorbidities, and demographics., Results: From the 1,500 charts reviewed, patients with teeth and edentulous had similar rates of comorbidities. PJI patients had higher rates of chronic kidney disease than patients who did not have the infection. The overall rate of infections in patients with teeth was 2.14%, close to the national average. The rate of infection in patients without teeth was 0.78%. Patients with teeth have a higher rate of infection one month or longer from surgery than edentulous patients., Conclusions: There was an increased infection rate in patients with teeth at six months and greater since the primary total joint arthroplasty. The organisms responsible for many of the PJIs are commonly found in the mouth of humans. Having teeth is a potential risk factor for late PJI., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. The University of Toledo issued approval 301280-UT. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Brenner et al.)

Background: Dental implants are an effective treatment option for edentulism, which poses a substantial barrier to oral health. The quality of the bone at the implant site may have an impact on the outcome of implant therapy. The purpose of this retrospective investigation was to assess implant survival rates and problems in individuals who were edentulous and had varying forms of bone., Methods: Patients who were edentulous and had dental implants placed between 2020 and 2022 were included. Preoperative radiographic examination was used to establish the kind of bone, which was then used to analyze implant survival rates and problems. A statistical study was carried out to compare the results between various bone kinds., Findings: The analysis comprised 225 edentulous patients in total. The implant survival rates varied according to the kind of bone; kind 1 bone had the highest survival rate (94.0%), while Type 4 bone had the lowest (75.0%). As bone quality declined, so did the incidence of complications such as peri-implantitis, implant movement, and implant breakage., Conclusion: In conclusion, this study emphasizes how important bone type is for implant survival rates and issues in edentulous individuals. Comprehending these correlations is essential for enhancing therapeutic results and directing clinical judgment in implant therapy., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences.)

Objectives: Accurate occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) establishment is an essential component of prosthodontic treatment. No accurate approach exists to determine the appropriate OVD for patients without posterior teeth. This study aimed to correlate the accuracy of the nose-to-chin distance with various facial measurements and thumb length in dentulous and edentulous Saudi patients., Materials and Methods: The participants comprised 100 fully dentulous Saudi male dental students aged 20-30 years (group 1) and 20 completely edentulous patients aged 60-70 years (group 2). We evaluated the correlations between the OVD (nose-to-chin distance) and the distance from the pupil to the corner of the mouth, the vertical length at midline of the nose (from subnasion to glabella), the distance from the outer canthus of one eye to the inner canthus of the other, twice the distance between the inner canthi, and the distance from the thumb tip to the index fingertip., Statistical Analysis: Spearman's correlation and regression analysis were performed to analyze and assess the correlations between the clinically measured nose-to-chin distance and other parameters, with significance set at 0.05., Results: In edentulous patients, the results showed a significant, strong, positive correlation between the nose-to-chin distance and the distance between the pupil and the mouth corner. In dentate subjects, a significant, strong, positive association was found between the nose-to-chin distance and the distance from the outer canthus of one eye to the inner canthus of the other. The linear regression analysis revealed that the distance between the pupil and the mouth corner in edentulous patients significantly predicted the OVD., Conclusions: In both groups, the distance from the outer canthus of one eye to the inner canthus of the other and the distance from the pupil to the mouth corner were reliable and accurate for OVD measurements. These could be considered appropriate methods for OVD determination during full-mouth rehabilitation., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Emam et al.)

Purpose: This Best Evidence Consensus Statement evaluated the existing Angle's classification clinical literature to determine if the Angle's classification as historically determined in maximum intercuspal position (MIP) with hand held casts is coincident with the centric occlusion (CO) determined Angle's classification. In addition, it explored the value of using Angle's classification for edentulous patients Materials and methods: The search strategy was related to the focus questions and limited to Meta‐analyses, Systematic Reviews (SR), Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) and Clinical Trials. Searches were completed using the term Angle's classification and Boolean Modifiers (AND) with the key terms: dental occlusion, dental occlusion centric, centric occlusion, centric relation, maximal intercuspation, MIP, intercuspal position, and edentulous patient, retrognathia, determination, and prognathia. Additional related articles were culled from the reference lists in the articles found in the PubMed searches. Results: The search identified 494 articles related to the selected terminology. Titles were reviewed and selected if related to the focus questions for further review. Seven papers could be identified that addressed the specifics of the questions. Conclusions: There is evidence that the Angle's classification for many patients will change when recorded in CO compared to the historical MIP determination/definition. A different Angle's classification recorded in CO is potentially a significant diagnostic finding for patients needing complete mouth rehabilitation. The current definitions of Angle's Classification are not useful in the management of edentulous patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report on the effect of immediate implant loading with fixed prostheses compared to early and conventional loading on implant and prosthesis survival, failure, and complications. Materials and Methods: An electronic and manual search was conducted to identify randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) as well as prospective and retrospective studies involving rough surface implants and implant fixed complete dental prostheses for edentulous patients. Results: The 62 studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria featured 4 RCTs, 2 prospective case-control studies, 34 prospective cohort studies, and 22 retrospective cohort studies. These studies yielded data from 2,695 patients (2,757 edentulous arches) with 13,653 implants. Studies were grouped according to the loading protocol applied; 45 studies reported on immediate loading, 8 on early loading, and 11 on conventional loading. For the immediate loading protocol with flap surgery, the implant and prosthesis survival rates ranged from 90.1% to 100% and 93.75% to 100%, respectively (range of follow-up, 1 to 10 years). When immediate loading was combined with guided flapless implant placement, the implant survival rates ranged from 90% to 99.4%. For the early loading protocol, the implant and prosthesis survival rates ranged from 94.74% to 100% and 93.75% to 100%, respectively (range of follow-up, 1 to 10 years). For the conventional loading protocol, the implant and prosthesis survival rates ranged from 94.95% to 100% and 87.5% to 100%, respectively (range of follow-up, 2 to 15 years). No difference was identified between maxilla and mandible. Conclusions: When selecting cases carefully and using dental implants with a rough surface, immediate loading with fixed prostheses in edentulous patients results in similar implant and prosthesis survival and failure rates as early and conventional loading. For immediate loading, most of the studies recommended a minimal insertion torque of 30 Ncm. The estimated 1-year implant survival was above 99% with all three loading protocols. Caution is necessary when interpreting these results, as there are many confounding factors that affect treatment outcomes with each of the loading protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the frequency of significant radiographic findings in edentulous jaws and compare the results with the findings in previous surveys and to emphasize the need for a radiographic examination of edentulous patients before making complete denture prosthesis. Material and Methods: Panoramic radiographs of 1000 completely edentulous patients attending the Out Patient Department were examined for the presence of significant radiologic conditions. The data obtained was tabulated and statistically analyzed. Results: Positive radiographic findings were present in 18.2% of patients. The most common radiographic finding noted was impacted/unerupted teeth (35.1%), followed by fractures (27%). The least common finding was mucosal thickening (1.7%). Residual roots were noticed in 10.6 % of the cases. Conclusion: Routine panoramic radiography of edentulous patients visiting a dentist is necessary for early diagnosis of pathological conditions which may later cause trouble to patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Probiotics have been prescribed to old aged patients' invariably with or without complete dentures for improving their digestive process. It is mentioned that probiotics do have an effect in increasing the amount of saliva in the oral cavity. Therefore, this study was planned to evaluate the amount and pH of saliva after using probiotics for 60 days in completely edentulous patients. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the amount and pH of saliva of edentulous patients before and after using probiotics. Settings and Design: The interventional prospective study was conducted at the department of prosthodontics of the institute. Methods: The study was conducted on edentulous patients. The whole unstimulated and stimulated saliva was collected at baseline and amount, and pH was measured. Then, each patient was given probiotic capsules reaching 3.3 × 107 CFU/g to consume daily once for 60 days. Saliva was recollected from patients, and its amount and pH was calculated and compared with baseline. Statistical Analysis Used: STATAIC-13. Results: On comparison of saliva before and after consuming probiotics, there was an increase in the mean unstimulated and stimulated saliva from baseline to that after 60 days, the difference being 0.406 and 0.433, respectively. The difference was statistically significant with P < 0.001. The mean pH at baseline was 7.818 ± 0.231 which increased after 60 days to 7.825 ± 0.189, the difference being 0.007. Conclusion: This study concluded that probiotics increase the amount of saliva of completely edentulous patients and so it can be helpful in patients suffering from xerostomia/hyposalivation.

Edentulism is a debilitating and irreversible condition. Edentulism remains the major condition worldwide especially among adults. It is described as the final marker of the disease burden. Edentulism leads to resorption of the alveolar bone which in turn changes the soft tissue profile and facial appearance. Mastication is also affected by edentulism. Hence a study was done to evaluate the awareness of missing teeth replacement among partially edentulous patients reported to our institution. A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among the patients with partial edentulism. The sample size of 200 patients were selected. A close ended questionnaire was used to assess the patients awareness of missing tooth replacement. This institution based cross sectional study was done in December 2019. Sample size estimated from the cross reference was 200. 69.5% of the participants were aware about partial edentulous condition and 51% were aware of replacement of partially edentulous condition. However only 16% were aware of all the three types of prosthetic replacement. Majority of the study participants opted for a fixed type of replacement (81%). About 49.5% had difficulty in mastication followed by aesthetics and speech problems. Majority of the patients with higher education had awareness on replacement of missing teeth. The most common reason for replacing the missing teeth was found to be difficulty in mastication in females(27.5%). Financial constraint was the most common reason stated for not getting replaced the missing teeth about 36.5%. More than half of the study participants were not aware of all the treatment options available for replacing missing teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To perform a systematic review on studies assessing clinical outcomes in patients rehabilitated with complete‐arch fixed implant‐supported prostheses according to the time of loading. Materials and Methods: Data obtained from patient and clinical outcomes, as implant failure, success rate, survival rate, biological complications, technical complications, mechanical complications, and marginal bone loss, were included on this review. The search was performed on databases PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane. Cochrane Collaboration tool was used to assess the risk of bias of randomized controlled studies, and an adapted version of Newcastle–Ottawa scale was used for observational studies. All data were tabulated according to the time of loading: (1) immediate restoration/loading, (2) early loading, and (3) conventional loading. Results: From a total of 4027 studies identified through the three databases, six of them were randomized controlled trials, five of them were prospective observational studies, and another five were retrospective observational studies. In total, 5954 implants, 1294 patients and 1305 full‐arch fixed implant‐supported prostheses were included in this review. There was a wide heterogeneity among clinical studies regarding the study design and treatment procedures. Thus, pooled estimates were not performed in order to avoid potential biases. The methodological assessment by the Modified Newcastle–Ottawa scale showed a moderate quality of observational studies. Regarding the RCTs studies, all of them presented at least one element of bias according to the Cochrane Collaboration tool for assessing risk of bias. Conclusion: There is evidence of high survival‐success implant rate (95‐100%) for either loading protocols (immediate restoration/loading, early loading, and conventional loading). However, careful attention must be taken by clinician when interpreting the results reported in clinical studies. Future studies should be performed using standardized methodology in order to determine the true predictability regarding immediate, early, and conventional loading protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of positive radiographic findings in panoramic radiographs of edentulous arches. Method: A sample of 327 panoramic radiographs was selected from the patient pool at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. Radiographs were evaluated for presence of retained root tips, impacted teeth, radiolucent and radiopaque areas, soft tissue calcifications, and foreign bodies. Results: Approximately 57.5% of panoramic radiographs revealed no positive radiographic findings, while the remaining 42.5% contained 1 or more positive radiographic findings. Thirty-nine root fragments were identified, and the majority were located in the maxilla. However, only 5 pathological findings (3.8%) required treatment modification before denture fabrication. Conclusions: Results of the study do not support routine pretreatment panoramic radiography on patients seeking denture fabrication. Panoramic radiography is a valuable diagnostic tool in the pretreatment assessment of partially and completely edentulous patients, but their routine use in such patients should be discouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess whether differences in inter‐individual clinical and prosthodontic variables affect masticatory performance (MP) of edentulous subjects who received new complete dentures. Materials and methods: There were 204 edentulous participants who received new maxillary and mandibular complete dentures between October 2014 and March 2018 at a university clinic. MP was measured by a mixing ability test with a two‐coloured chewing gum for 20 and 50 chewing cycles. The outcome variable was the degree of colour mixing of the chewed gum, expressed by the variation of hue (VOH) and measured by electronic colourimetric analysis. Explanatory variables included gender and age, quality of the dentures, classification of edentulous ridges and prognostic features, time since the insertion of the new dentures and patient‐reported outcomes related to complete denture treatment. Bivariate correlation tests, multiple linear regression and a linear mixed model were used for data analysis. Results: Mean VOH values were 0.57 (±0.13) and 0.43 (±0.16) for 20 and 50 chewing cycles, respectively. Mixing ability was higher in females than in males for 20 (P = 0.036) and 50 (P = 0.006) chewing cycles. No effects on the patient‐reported outcome measures were observed. The time since denture delivery, gender, age and Prosthodontic Diagnostic Index (PDI) score were independently associated with masticatory performance at 20 and/or 50 chewing cycles. Overall masticatory performance tested by the linear mixed‐effect model confirmed that VOH value was negatively influenced by male gender, older age and shorter time since denture delivery. Conclusion: Masticatory performance seems to be improved with the continuous use of newly inserted dentures and negatively influenced by advanced age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine if edentulous persons could be identified using panoramic images by: I) investigating the possibility of matching two panoramic radiographs of the same person obtained on two different occasions, II) determining what anatomical features are used as the base for matching, III) investigating if oral and maxillofacial radiologists (OMR) and dentists who were not oral and maxillofacial radiologists (NOMR) differed in their ability to match the images, and IV) determining if the time elapsed between the images affected the results or the confidence of the match. Panoramic image pairs from 19 patients obtained on two different occasions were included, plus 10 images from other edentulous patients. The time elapsed between the image pairs varied between 4 months and 6 years. Four OMR and four NOMR were asked to match the image pairs depicting the same patient. The participants marked each match as "certain", "likely", or "possible" and what anatomical structure they used for matching. The OMR group correctly matched 100% of the images and the NOMR group correctly matched 96%. The anatomy of the mandible was most often used for matching. The OMR group was more certain in their decisions than the NOMR group. The time elapsed between the examinations did not affect the result. In conclusion, panoramic images can be used to identify edentulous patients. Both OMR and NOMR could identify edentulous individuals when only panoramic radiographic images were available and the OMR were especially confident in the identification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of edentulous patients who have temporomandibular disorders is difficult because of the poor stability of their conventional complete dentures. With an implant-supported bar and a clip-to-bar overdenture, mandibular dentures can be stabilized. The results of a prospective clinical study of 10 edentulous patients with temporomandibular disorders and treatment with implant-supported overdentures in mandibles are presented. Before and after 3 years of wearing the implant-supported overdentures, patients were interviewed and a clinical functional analysis was taken. Patients with displacement of the articular disc or bone destruction of the joints had a decrease in pain, an enhanced mobility of the mandible, and a decrease in temporomandibular joint sounds. Patients with pain of muscular genesis as a result of bruxism suffered after 3 years from the same pain and did not show an improvement of muscle or joint sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is any relationship between the condition of complete dentures and TMDs. Methods: The sample consisted of 61 consecutive patients (35 females and 26 males) who were admitted to the Department of Prosthodontics of Mashhad Faculty of Dentistry for fabrication of new complete dentures. The age range of the participants was between 32 and 80 years, with the mean age of 57.05±10.26 years. The patients were examined by two prosthodontists. Using a questionnaire, the first prosthodontist asked the patients about their habits and history of trauma to the temporomandibular joints (TMJs). She then examined the participants for signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). The second prosthodontist examined each participant's existing denture and checked its fit, stability, retention, occlusion, and centric relation, and recorded how long it had been in service. The examination was double blind. The data were recorded in examination sheets. Results: The relationship between TMDs and denture fit, stability, retention, centric relation and occlusion was analyzed using Fisher’s Exact Test. No significant relationship was found between denture characteristics and TMDs in complete denture wearers (P-value>0.05). Conclusion: Complete denture characteristics did not play a role in the development of TMDs in edentulous patients.

Objective: To investigate the occurrence of mild cognitive impairment in edentulous patients up to 3 years after they received single-implant overdentures (1-IODs)., Methods: This was a follow-up study for a crossover randomized controlled trial comparing 1-IODs and conventional complete dentures, with patient satisfaction as the primary outcome. In the present study, the cognitive function of the patients, measured with the Japanese version of the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA-J), was evaluated as the secondary outcome at baseline and 2 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after 1-IOD placement. The total and domain (memory, executive function, visuospatial skills, language, attention, and orientation) MoCA-J scores of the patients at each timepoint were analyzed and compared., Results: Twenty-two patients with edentulous mandibles received 1-IODs. Within-group comparisons revealed that the total MoCA-J scores at 1 year and 3 years after 1-IOD placement were significantly increased compared with baseline scores. Additionally, the memory domain scores at all timepoint were significantly increased compared with the baseline scores, and the executive function domain scores at the 2-month, 2-year and 3-year timepoint were significantly increased compared with the baseline scores., Conclusion: Patients with edentulous mandibles who underwent 1-IOD placement showed significantly improved total scores of MoCA-J after 1 year and 3 years of wearing 1-IODs. In addition, they showed significantly improved memory domain scores at 2 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after 1-IOD placement and executive function domain scores at 2 months, 2 years, and 3 years after 1-IOD placement., Clinical Significance: The results of this study suggest that 1-IOD treatment for older adults, especially those with edentulous mandibles, may prevent cognitive decline regardless of the condition of the maxilla., 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 © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Abstract Purpose This article describes the protocol of a digital impression technique to make an impression and recording of the jaw relationship of edentulous patients for the fabrication of CAD/CAM custom tray using computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology. Methods Scan the maxillary and mandibular edentulous jaws using an intraoral scanner. Scan the silicone jig with the maxillary and mandibular jaws while keeping the jig between the jaws. Import the standard tessellation language data of the maxillary and mandibular jaws and jig to make a jaw relation record and fabricate custom trays (CAD/CAM trays) using a rapid prototyping system. Make a definitive impression of the maxillary and mandibular jaws using the CAD/CAM trays. Conclusions Digitalization of the complete denture fabrication process can simplify the complicated treatment and laboratory process of conventional methods In addition, the proposed method enables quality control regardless of the operator's experience and technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Probiotics have been prescribed to old aged patients' invariably with or without complete dentures for improving their digestive process. It is mentioned that probiotics do have an effect in increasing the amount of saliva in the oral cavity. Therefore, this study was planned to evaluate the amount and pH of saliva after using probiotics for 60 days in completely edentulous patients. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the amount and pH of saliva of edentulous patients before and after using probiotics. Settings and Design: The interventional prospective study was conducted at the department of prosthodontics of the institute. Methods: The study was conducted on edentulous patients. The whole unstimulated and stimulated saliva was collected at baseline and amount, and pH was measured. Then, each patient was given probiotic capsules reaching 3.3 × 107 CFU/g to consume daily once for 60 days. Saliva was recollected from patients, and its amount and pH was calculated and compared with baseline. Statistical Analysis Used: STATAIC-13. Results: On comparison of saliva before and after consuming probiotics, there was an increase in the mean unstimulated and stimulated saliva from baseline to that after 60 days, the difference being 0.406 and 0.433, respectively. The difference was statistically significant with P < 0.001. The mean pH at baseline was 7.818 ± 0.231 which increased after 60 days to 7.825 ± 0.189, the difference being 0.007. Conclusion: This study concluded that probiotics increase the amount of saliva of completely edentulous patients and so it can be helpful in patients suffering from xerostomia/hyposalivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to test the reliability of a method to measure the masticatory performance of complete denture wearers employing a colour-mixing ability test and assessment by visual and electronic colourimetric analysis. A sample of 75 subjects was selected from patients who received new conventional complete dentures. Masticatory tests were performed using a two-colour chewing gum that was masticated for 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 chewing cycles, performed in a random order. The mixing level of the two colours of the chewed gum was assessed visually by two independent raters based on a 5-point ordinal scale. The specimens were flattened into a 1-mm-width wafer, scanned and saved as a two-sided digital image. Each pair of images was submitted to an electronic colourimetric analysis to assess the level of colour mixture, measured by the circular variance of hue (VOH). Overall inter- and intra-rater agreements in visual analysis were 64% and 68%, respectively (almost 99% of scores ranged within ±1 point), whilst overall weighted kappa was >0.80. A proportional increase in the level of mixture occurred with increased number of chewing cycles (P < .001). Similarly, VOH and the visual analysis were highly correlated (r = -.89; P < .001). Bland-Altman plots revealed excellent agreement and extremely low systematic error between duplicated VOH measures. It was concluded that the two-colour chewing gum test is a reliable method to assess the masticatory performance in complete denture wearers using both visual and electronic colourimetric analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In the present study, we compared the laryngoscopic view depending on the size of the Macintosh curved blade in edentulous patients.Methods: Thirty-five edentulous adult patients scheduled for elective surgery were included in the study. After induction of anesthesia, two direct laryngoscopies were performed alternately using a standard-sized Macintosh curved blade (No. 4 for men and No. 3 for women) and smaller-sized Macintosh curved blade (No. 3 for men and No. 2 for women). During direct laryngoscopy with each blade, two digital photographs of the lateral view were taken when the blade tip was placed in the valleculae; the laryngoscope was lifted to achieve the best laryngeal view. Then, the best laryngeal views were assessed using the percentage of glottic opening (POGO) score. On the photographs of the lateral view of direct laryngoscopy, the angles between the line extending along the laryngoscopic handle and the horizontal line were measured.Results: The POGO score was improved with the smaller-sized blade compared with the standard-sized blade (87.3% [11.8%] vs. 71.3% [20.0%], P<0.001, respectively). The angles between the laryngoscopic handle and the horizontal line were greater with the smaller-sized blade compared to the standard-sized blade when the blade tip was placed on the valleculae and when the laryngoscope was lifted to achieve the best laryngeal view (both P<0.001).Conclusions: Compared to a standard-sized Macintosh blade, a smaller-sized Macintosh curved blade improved the laryngeal exposure in edentulous patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Increasedlife expectancy in populations has brought along specific new scenarios in the fields of medicine for the elderly; prevalence of physical complications such as edentulism and patients with dentures is growing. Management of anesthesia and ventilation in this group of patients has turned into a great challenge. Some researchers suggest dentures to be left in place during bag-mask ventilation; yet, no unanimous agreement exists in this regard. Methods: In a single blind randomized clinical trial, we studied 300 patients with ASA class I, II (American Society of Anesthesiologists), Mallampati class (I, II) and aged over 55 years in three groups. After induction of anesthesia, in group G dentures were removed and in each buccal space an eight-layer 10 × 10 cm gauze and an oral airway were placed. In group D, the dentures and an oral airway were left in place. In group C (control), after removing dentures just an appropriate oral airway was placed. Then, each three group underwent bag-mask ventilation. Success of bag-mask ventilation (BMV) was considered as increase in end-tidal carbon dioxide to more than 20 mmHg and back to baseline with fresh gas flow of 3 L/min and adjustable pressure limiting valve pressure of 20 cm H 2 O. Success rates were evaluated between groups. Results: Effective BMV was possible in 91 (91%), 64 (64%) and 41 (41%) patients in groups G, D and C respectively. The differences were statistically significant. Successful BMV rate was significantly higher in female patients in group G compared to group C; 43/44 versus 25/46 individuals, P = 0.0001, odds ratio = 0.03, 95% confidence interval (0.00, 0.22). Conclusions: Leaving dentures in place in edentulous patients after inducing anesthesia improves bag-mask ventilation. However, placing folded compressed gauze in buccal space leads to more significant improvement in BMV compared to leaving dentures in place.

Background: Infections in the oral and maxillofacial region can sometimes extend beyond the oral cavity, with serious consequences. Most oral infections are odontogenic, occurring through the root apex of the tooth or the periodontal pocket. It thus makes sense that edentulous patients have a much lower risk of oral bacterial infection. For this reason, while there are many reports on systemic infections caused by oral infections, few of these describe such infections in edentulous patients. Case presentation: We present a case of oral and maxillofacial cellulitis followed by sepsis due to Streptococcus pyogenes infection in an 89-year-old Japanese edentulous woman. S. pyogenes was detected in the wound of left maxilla and the blood sample. S. pyogenes has been reported to be one of the most common and influential aerobic bacteria associated with deep neck infection and subsequent systemic infection. Left maxillary sinusitis was observed, and this could be the origin of the S. pyogenes infection. S. pyogenes derived from the sinusitis and leaked to the oral cavity might have caused systemic infection through wounding of the oral mucosa. Fortunately, intensive antibiotic therapy was effective, and the patient recovered without any surgical procedures. Conclusions: We experienced a rare case of oral and maxillofacial cellulitis followed by sepsis due to a Streptococcus pyogenes infection in an old edentulous woman. This result indicated that, while edentulous patients are considered to have no risk of odontogenic infection, they still carry a risk of bacterial infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

مقدمه: تخمین عرض مزیودیستالی دندان سانترال فک بالا بویژه برای ساخت دندان مصنوعی در افراد بی دندان کار مشکلی می‏باشد. در این موارد یکی از راه‏های تعیین اندازه دندان استفاده از شاخص‏های خارج دهانی است. هدف ازاین تحقیق تعیین رابطه عرض مزیودیستالی دندان سانترال فک بالا با اندازه فاصله بین مردمک‏ها، که از ثبات خوبی در طول عمر برخوردار است، بود. مواد و روش‏ها: در این مطالعه توصیفی-مقطعی در 100 فرد ایرانی (50 مرد و 50 زن با میانگین سنی 3/6±23 سال) عاری از ناهنجاری چشمی و دندانی، اندازه گیری عرض مزیودیستالی سانترال بالا و فاصله بین مردمک‏ها توسط گیج Boley با دقت 1/0 میلیمتر، برای هر فرد سه مرتبه انجام شده و میانگین آنها به دست آمد. برای ارزیابی ارتباط بین این دو پارامتر یک فرمول ریاضی محاسبه شد و در20 فرد دیگر (10 مرد و 10 زن با میانگین سنی 56/1±8/24 سال) کارایی فرمول جهت تعیین اندازه دندان مورد بررسی قرار گرفت و تفاوت بین اندازه محاسبه شده با اندازه واقعی دندان توسط آزمون آماری Pair t-test مقایسه گردید. یافته‏ها: در مرحله اول این نتایج حاصل شد: میانگین عرض مزیودیستال دندان سانترال بالا 4/0±6/8 میلی متر و میانگین فاصله بین مردمک‏ها 8/2±1/62 میلیمتر بدست آمد. میزان همبستگی این دو پارامتر (05/0P

Purpose To compare the impact of canine guided vs. bilateral balanced occlusion on oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) as a patient-reported outcome measure. Methods In this randomized single-blind crossover trial, 19 patients have been provided with new complete dentures in the maxilla and mandible. OHRQoL was assessed using the 49-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-49) before the start of the prosthodontic treatment (B), 3 months after insertion of the new dentures (T1), and 3 months after rework into the alternative concept (T2). Multilevel mixed-effect linear regression models were computed to determine the effect provided by the new set of dentures and the specific impact of the occlusal concept on OHRQoL using summary scores of the OHIP-49 and of a 19-items subset specific for edentulous patients (OHIP-EDENT). Results At baseline, participants’ OHRQoL was substantially impaired indicated by an average OHIP-49 score of 42.1 points and an OHIP-EDENT score of 21.1 points. The effect of provision of a new set of complete dentures was a statistically significant decrease of 8.3 points (OHIP-49) and 4.0 points (OHIP-EDENT), respectively, representing a clinically relevant improvement in OHRQoL. When wearing dentures with bilateral balanced occlusion, participants showed on average 1.6 points higher OHIP-49 scores and 0.9 points higher OHIP-EDENT scores compared to canine guided dentures. This effect of the occlusal concept was neither statistically nor clinically significant. Conclusions Both investigated occlusal concepts for complete dentures were comparable in their effect on patients’ perceptions with none being considerably superior in terms of OHRQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]