Additive Manufacturing: A Comparative Analysis of Dimensional Accuracy and Skin Texture Reproduction of Auricular Prostheses Replicas.

Purpose: The use of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and additive manufacturing in maxillofacial prosthetics has been widely acknowledged. Rapid prototyping can be considered for manufacturing of auricular prostheses. Therefore, so-called prostheses replicas can be fabricated by digital means.

Restless legs syndrome in psoriasis: an unexpected comorbidity.

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move them in order to gain relief. Higher frequencies of RLS have been reported in systemic lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and atopic dermatitis.

Objectives: Since the disease-related stress present in psoriasis is similar to the stress of those diseases, we aimed to study the frequency of RLS in a German cohort of patients with psoriasis.

Reporting of dental status from full-arch radiographs: Descriptive analysis and methodological aspects.

Aim: To identify standards, how entities of dental status are assessed and reported from full-arch radiographs of adults.

Methods: A PubMed (Medline) search was performed in November 2011. Literature had to report at least one out of four defined entities using radiographs: number of teeth or implants; caries, fillings or restorations; root-canal fillings and apical health; alveolar bone level.

The peri-implant health in patients attending an annual recall program. A clinical and microbiological study in 74 patients from the Tübingen Implant Registry.

Objectives: To describe the peri-implant condition of unselected implant recall patients, to relate it to relevant features from the patient medical history, and to look at associations across these findings.

Patients And Methods: Prior to their most recent recall appointment, 74 individuals underwent a clinical and microbiological (PCR) investigation.

Results: Signs of a serious peri-implantitis condition were not encountered in this patient cohort.

Effect of simulated diving trips on pulmonary artery pressure in healthy men.

Background: Environmental stresses, such as immersion, cold, and venous gas microbubbles, have been shown to contribute to an increase in pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) after single SCUBA dives. This study was carried out to investigate PAP changes following a dry chamber dive.

Methods: 17 male divers [mean age 32 years, standard deviation (SD) 7 years, mean body mass index 26 kg m(-2) (SD 3 kg m(-2))] participated in the study.

Day-to-day reliability of two different models to quantify knee kinematics in subjects with knee osteoarthritis and healthy controls.

Results from instrumented gait analysis vary between test situations. Subject characteristics and the biomechanical model can influence the total amount of variability. The purpose of this study was to quantify reliability of gait data in general, and with respect to the applied model, and investigated population group.

Application times for the single-step/double-mix technique for impression materials in clinical practice.

Hydrophilicity of unset impression materials underlies changes occurring during working time. Hence, the clinical application time when impression materials contact oral tissues after mixing may play a critical role in successful impressions. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical time course of impression taking applying the single-step/double-mix technique.

Lip and tongue movements during phonetic sequences: analysis and definition of normal values.

Precise knowledge of lip and tongue movements is limited. Conventional investigative methods do not allow for their precise representation and analysis. In the present study, electromagnetic articulography (EMA) was used to define normal values for lip movements based on consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) sequences and for tongue movements based on vowel-consonant-vowel (VCV) sequences.

Effect of simulated dives on diastolic function in healthy men.

Scuba diving may elicit acute changes to human cardiovascular function. Environmental stresses such as immersion, cold, and venous gas microbubbles all have been shown to contribute to right ventricular overload and impaired left ventricular filling after single dives. We investigated cardiac function after simulated dry chamber dives.

Influence of implant geometry on primary insertion stability and simulated peri-implant bone loss: an in vitro study using resonance frequency analysis and damping capacity assessment.

Purpose: To investigate the influence of implant geometry on primary stability and on peri-implant bone loss in an in vitro model using the Periotest and Osstell devices.

Materials And Methods: Screw-type implants of various diameters and lengths were inserted into bovine bone blocks of different densities, and the primary insertion stability was recorded. To study the influence of implant geometry on implant stability with different levels of peri-implant bone loss, implants were inserted into acrylic resin blocks to mimic osseointegration, and different amounts of the peri-implant acrylic resin were removed.

Effects of a sensory-motor exercise program for older adults with osteoarthritis or prosthesis of the hip using measurements made by the Posturomed oscillatory platform.

Objectives: To assess changes in balance capacities after a 12-week sensory-motor training program for older adults with osteoarthritis or prosthesis of the hip.

Background: Sensory-motor training is recommended to help aging adults with osteoarthritis maintain activity, avoid injurious falls, and improve functioning. Up to now, however, there has been no standard training protocol for sensory-motor training.

The influence of matching populations on kinematic and kinetic variables in runners with iliotibial band syndrome.

The purpose of this study was to assess how participant matching influences biomechanical variables when comparing healthy runners and runners with iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS). We examined 52 healthy runners (CO) and 18 with ITBS, using three-dimensional kinematics and pressure distribution. The study population was matched in three ways and compared with the biomechanical findings: ITBS versus CO I (unmatched), ITBS versus CO II (matched to gender) and ITBS versus CO III (matched to gender height, and weight).

Effect of xylitol/chlorhexidine versus xylitol or chlorhexidine as single rinses on initial biofilm formation of cariogenic streptococci.

Objectives: Oral bacteria implying a natural resistance may deteriorate the antibacterial efficacy of chlorhexidine on cariogenic microorganisms. Xylitol, mostly applied via chewing gum, is known to possess favorable plaque-reducing properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a xylitol rinse formulated as pure solution or combined with chlorhexidine on the viability of Streptococcus sanguis (early colonizer of human teeth) and Streptococcus mutans (the most causal strain for caries) during initial steps of biofilm formation.

Effect of relative humidity on the hydrophilicity of unset elastomeric impression materials.

This study aimed to analyze the effect of relative humidity (RH) on the initial hydrophilicity of unset elastomeric dental impression materials. Initial water contact angles were studied on thin unset films of 1 polyether and 4 polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) impression materials at 20%, 50%, and 80% RH by high-resolution drop shape analysis. One of 4 PVS materials reached the polyether's initial hydrophilicity.

Reproducibility of plantar pressure distribution data in barefoot running.

The aim of this study was to provide detailed information on rationales, calculations, and results of common methods used to quantify reproducibility in plantar pressure variables. Recreational runners (N=95) performed multiple barefoot running trials in a laboratory setup, and pressure variables were analyzed in nine distinct subareas of the foot. Reproducibility was assessed by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and the root mean square error (RMSE).

Reliability of findings around healthy implants in association with oral hygiene measures: a clinical, microbiological, and immunological follow-up in edentulous patients.

Objectives: To assess the performance of clinical, microbiological, and immunological diagnosis of peri-implant health and the influence of professional hygiene measures on them.

Material And Methods: Twenty-one edentulous patients with oral implants supporting a lower overdenture were followed up over 3 months beginning 1 week before their annual recall visit. Hygiene scores, probing depth, bleeding on probing (BOP), implant stability, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) volume, sulcular interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations, and relative concentrations of five bacterial species (polymerase chain reaction) were investigated.

Associations between peri-implant crevicular fluid volume, concentrations of crevicular inflammatory mediators, and composite IL-1A -889 and IL-1B +3954 genotype. A cross-sectional study on implant recall patients with and without clinical signs of peri-implantitis.

Objectives: To assess possible relationships between peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) volumes, biochemical markers of the peri-implant immune response, and periodontitis-associated genotype.

Material And Methods: PICF samples from 29 implant maintenance patients, 24 wearing overdentures, five having single crowns and bridgework (11 patients with peri-implantitis and 18 individuals with healthy peri-implant conditions), were analyzed for per site and per crevicular-fluid-volume concentrations of interleukin-1beta, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2, and prostaglandin E2 by ELISA. Associations between the three substance concentrations and to crevicular fluid flow rate were analyzed by linear regression analysis.

A comparison of implant-supported, bar- or ball-retained mandibular overdentures: a retrospective clinical, microbiologic, and immunologic study of 10 edentulous patients attending a recall visit.

Purpose: Clinical, microbiologic, and immunologic comparisons of the peri-implant health in edentulous volunteers wearing long-standing implant-supported ball- or Dolder bar-retained mandibular overdentures were performed.

Materials And Methods: Ten age- and gender-matched individuals (mean age, 71 years) with either ball- or bar-retained complete mandibular overdentures, scheduled for an annual implant recall examination, were investigated an average of 7 years after implant placement. Plaque and gingival crevicular fluid samples were obtained from the peri-implant sulcus.

Resonance frequency analysis and damping capacity assessment. Part 2: peri-implant bone loss follow-up. An in vitro study with the Periotest and Osstell instruments.

Objective: We compared the performance of damping capacity assessment (Periotest device) to resonance frequency analysis (Osstell device) in the assessment of peri-implant bone loss in an in vitro experiment.

Material And Methods: Screw-type oral implants were polymerized into acrylic blocks. Peri-implant bone loss was simulated by successively removing defined portions of material surrounding the implants in millimeter increments.

Resonance frequency analysis and damping capacity assessment. Part I: an in vitro study on measurement reliability and a method of comparison in the determination of primary dental implant stability.

Objectives: The aims of this in vitro study were to evaluate reliability of the Osstell and Periotest devices in the assessment of implant stability and to perform a method comparison.

Material And Methods: Commercial dental implants were inserted into bovine rib segments of different anatomical origins and densities. Repeated measurements were performed, varying (a) the torque-in force of the devices' attachment screw (the Osstell transducer and the ball attachment, insert for the Periotest device), (b) the insertion site bone quality, and (c) the thread exposure in simulated peri-implant bone defects.

Dynamic visco-elastic properties of dental composite resins.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the visco-elastic properties of dental composites by dynamic mechanical analysis under the influence of clinically relevant temperatures and variable frequencies, after being stored in air or distilled water for up to 3 months.

Methods: Two direct (Diamond Lite and Grandio) and two indirect (Artglass and Vita Zeta LC) composites were used. Samples were immediately tested (baseline) or stored at 37 degrees C, either in air or distilled water for 1 day, 7 or 90 days before testing.

Time needed for data collection in clinical studies on fixed prosthodontics.

Purpose: Realistic appraisals of time and costs are crucial for research grants and financing of clinical studies by sponsors, but little is known about the time actually needed for clinical data collection in dental studies. This survey evaluated the net time of patient contact necessary for collection and documentation of clinical data to establish an empirical base for more efficient study management and budgeting.

Materials And Methods: The time needed for the clinical examination of 41 prosthodontic patients in systematic follow-up was recorded.

Hydrophilicity of elastomeric non-aqueous impression materials during setting.

Objectives: Clinically relevant accuracy of dental impressions depends on flowing and wetting properties of the applied impression materials. The major objective of this study was to develop an experimental set-up and an analysis strategy for wettability measurements of impression materials during their working time.

Methods: High-resolution drop shape analysis was used to study contact angles on thin unset films of two polyether and two vinyl polysiloxane (VPS) impression materials.

Assessing the reliability of a digital preparation assistant system used in dental education.

Use of a digital preparation assistant system may improve considerably the quality of preclinical dental education, provided the system works reliably. Thus, the purpose of this pilot study was to quantitatively assess the reliability of a new preclinical digital preparation assistant system (PREPassist, KaVo, Germany). The system was used to repeatedly scan four different unprepared and four different prepared teeth both with and without repositioning.

Radiographic study of changes in the mandibular condyle after implant prosthodontic rehabilitation.

Purpose: The aim of this follow-up investigation was to assess the influence of clinical variables after implant prosthodontic rehabilitation in patients without temporomandibular disorders on alterations of condylar morphology as seen radiographically.

Materials And Methods: In 167 patients, the condylar findings of flattening, erosion, osteophytes, and sclerosis were scored according to severity on rotational panoramic radiographs. Findings were followed up on images taken before and on average 5 years after implant prosthodontic rehabilitation.