Patient-Centered Risk Assessment in Implant Treatment Planning.

Purpose: To evaluate the current scientific evidence on estimating cumulative risk for biologic complications relating to dental implants and to develop a patient-centered risk assessment tool for establishing aggregate risk.

Materials And Methods: A review of the scientific literature on risk indicators relating to dental implants was completed with the goal of identifying and weighting individual risk indicators so aggregate biologic risk could be estimated. Three authors completed independent reviews of the literature, identifying 31 systematic reviews on risk indicators for biologic complications with dental implants, from which 24 potential risk indicators were considered.

Measuring the Monetary Value of Dental Implants for Denture Retention: A Willingness to Pay Approach.

Purpose: Two interforaminal dental implants in is a common treatment option for denture retention in edentulous patients. Economic methods to assess the patient's quality of life include the willingness to pay (WTP) for implant treatment and willingness to accept (WTA) to forgo implant treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the monetary value of implant retained complete dentures using WTP and WTA.

[Ectodermal dysplasia - A challenge for dentists].

Ectodermal dysplasias (EDs) form a large clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of manifestations characterized by dystrophy or agenesis of embryologic ectodermal derivatives. Therefore skin, nails, hair, teeth and secretory organs are mainly affected. Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is the most common ED syndrom.

[CAD/CAM application in complete denture prosthodontics].

The combination of scanning technology and CAD/CAM procedures allows to significantly reduce working time clinically as well as for the dental laboratory. In comparison to conventional complete denture fabrication, the AvaDent® system provides specific trays and registration plates to complete all the required patient recordings and steps in the first appointment. By virtual modeling (CAD) and milling of the denture (CAM) out of a solid acrylic puck, time-consuming flasking and packing procedures are needless.

[prepCheck computer-supported objective evaluation of students preparation in preclinical simulation laboratory].

Applications such as “prepCheck” allow objective and consistent judgments of tooth preparations. Hereby the respective preparation is matched with a standardized preparation. Whereas the learning curve in the beginning is time-consuming, after some time the faculty members will be relieved from additional mentoring time in the preclinical simulation laboratory.

The effect of tooth loss on gait stability of community-dwelling older adults.

Objective: To investigate the effects of tooth loss on gait stability in a healthy elderly population.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted among healthy and prosthetically well-restored seniors over the age of 65 years. The test group comprised 24 edentulous participants who were restored with complete dentures in the upper jaw and an overdenture fixed on two implants in the lower jaw.

[Digital implant impression taking - an overview].

In dentist's daily practice, intraoral scanning systems are increased. Besides scanning of prepared teeth, also implants could be scanned intraorally. This clinical report describes the step-by-step techniques to scan digitally intraoral implants with two intraoral scanners (Lava™ C.

Markov models in dentistry: application to resin-bonded bridges and review of the literature.

Markov models are mathematical models that can be used to describe disease progression and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of medical interventions. Markov models allow projecting clinical and economic outcomes into the future and are therefore frequently used to estimate long-term outcomes of medical interventions. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate its use in dentistry, using the example of resin-bonded bridges to replace missing teeth, and to review the literature.

Immediate loading of two unsplinted mandibular implants in edentulous patients with an implant-retained overdenture: an observational study over two years.

Objectives: Immediate loading of two unsplinted mandibular implants by means of an overdenture may be a viable and cost-effective treatment option to improve the patient's oral health-related quality of life. We therefore conducted a prospective observational study to estimate implant survival and patient satisfaction after an immediate loading protocol in edentulous patients.

Materials And Methods: Twenty edentulous patients who received two interforaminal implants (Straumann Standard implant, length 12 mm) were included in our study.

Wear of ceramic and titanium ball attachments in subjects with an implant-retained overdenture: a controlled clinical trial.

Statement Of Problem: Loss of retention of implant-retained overdentures due to wear of the patrix or matrix of the attachment system is a common clinical problem.

Purpose: The purpose of this controlled clinical trial was to compare the wear of ceramic and titanium ball attachments and their corresponding gold matrices after 1 year of clinical function in subjects with implant-retained mandibular overdentures.

Material And Methods: Forty subjects who had been treated with a 2-implant-retained overdenture received either 2 ruby ball attachments (20 subjects) or 2 titanium ball attachments (20 subjects).

[How up-to-date are metal-based resin-bonded fixed partial dentures in the era of full-ceramics and dental implants? A case report].

Regardless of the success of preventive measures the replace¬ment of missing teeth in young patients with caries-free dentitions is a daily challenge for the clinician. The decision-making process concerning the different treatment options is difficult, based on several equivalent solutions. Thereby the significance of minimal invasive approaches is steadily increasing.

[Zirconia in removable prosthodontics. A case report].

Zirconia as a framework material is well established in fixed prosthodontics. However, for its application for removable dentures little experience exists. Zirkonzahn® has developed a copy-milling unit, that is a manually operated machine for the manufacture not only of frameworks but also of complete removable dentures.

Estimating long-term survival of densely sintered alumina crowns: a cohort study over 10 years.

Statement Of Problem: Alumina-core crowns have become a standard treatment option in contemporary dental practice. The short-term survival of alumina crowns has been well documented. However, there is still a paucity of long-term survival data.

[Navigated implant placement using a bone supported CT-guided surgical template. Case report].

Surgical navigation allows precise implant placement and minimizes the risk of interferences with anatomical structures. Computerized implant planning based on tomographic data can be clinically realized by surgical templates. These are normally produced by stereo lithographic rapid prototyping.

[Low-cost simple anchorage systems in the removable hybrid prosthesis. Locator Root Attachment and Würzburg post].

For a simple and provisional retention of a removable prosthesis, less expensive direct retainers are an option compared to indirect cast gold copings with attachment. The Dalbo-Rotex-retainer and the Ticap-system are clinically established. The Locator Root attachment and the Würzburger Stift were recently introduced.

[Locator or ball attachment: a guide for clinical decision making].

Various attachments are available to retain overdentures on natural roots or implants. Technical aspects, the clinical handling, the capability to adapt or repair and the costs are parameters to be considered when choosing the appropriate attachment. Ball attachments and bars are clinically established and well documented.

[The interdisciplinary fixed restoration of an edentulous maxilla with a marked resorption of the alveolar crest. A case report. Part II: the definitive restoration].

Different materials and methods can be used for edentulous maxillae rehabilitations. A precise fit between the implant and the framework is assumed. Hence, often implant suprastructures made by conventional lost wax techniques lack such a fit and a secondary modification is necessary.

[The interdisciplinary fixed restoration of an edentulous maxilla with a pronounced resorption of the alveolar crest. A case report. Part I: The immediate reconstruction].

Edentulous patients wearing a conventional complete denture often request a fixed restoration for functional, esthetical and/or psychosocial reasons. For these patients implant-supported fixed dental prostheses are a prosthetic means of choice. However, after years of edentulism often a marked resorption of the alveolar crest has taken place, asking for bone augmentation before implant placement.

[First clinical experiences with ceramic ball attachments for overdentures].

In this prospective clinical study on 40 patients with similar clinical conditions (edentulous jaw with 2 interforaminal implants) commercially available ceramic ball attachments (ruby) were compared to commercial titanium ball attachments. The primary aim of the study was to measure the wear of the ball attachments after being 1 year in function. However, in the course of the study already after 7 to 12 months multiple failures with ceramic ball attachments occurred.

[The prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient after gunshot wound and initial maxillofacial surgical reconstruction. A case report].

An improvement of prognosis after tumour therapy as well as a rather high number of multiple traumas in the craniofacial area imply a high treatment need for craniofacial tissue defects. For a successful rehabilitation of these individuals, reconstructive oral and maxillofacial surgery and prosthodontics must collaborate closely and synergistically. Besides medical and psychological findings, functional and esthetical aspects need to be taken into account.

Clinical evaluation of Procera AllCeram crowns in the anterior and posterior regions.

The aim of this prospective clinical study was to investigate the long-term survival of Procera AllCeram all-ceramic crowns in the anterior and posterior regions. Between 1997 and 2005, 155 Procera crowns with aluminum oxide cores were placed in 50 patients. Patients were recalled in 2005 for a clinical assessment.