On Implant Prosthodontics: One Narrative, Twelve Voices - Introduction.

No abstract available.

Loss of preload in screwed implant joints as a function of time and tightening/untightening sequences.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether abutment screw tightening and untightening influenced loss of preload in three different implant/abutment interfaces, or on the implant body.

Materials And Methods: Five custom-fabricated machined titanium implants were used, each with its respective abutment, with different connection types, retention screws, and torque values (external hexagon with titanium screw/32 Ncm, external hexagon with coated screw/32 Ncm, internal hexagon/20 Ncm and internal conical/20 and 32 Ncm). Each implant tested had two strain gauges attached and was submitted to five tightening/untightening sequences.

Rehabilitation of children with ectodermal dysplasia. Part 2: an international consensus meeting.

A consensus meeting was arranged to provide an opportunity to discuss the residual nonconsensus questions following three rounds of a Delphi study. It was hoped that the nonagreements could be resolved to define a comprehensive protocol for the management of ectodermal dysplasia, particularly with respect to the use of dental implants in growing patients. An international panel of expert clinicians in pediatric dentistry, prosthodontics, and orthodontics was invited to be part of the Delphi study to develop agreement on clinical questions through a consensus of ideas.

Rehabilitation of children with ectodermal dysplasia. Part 1: an international Delphi study.

Purpose: An international Delphi study was undertaken to determine by consensus an agreed approach to the management of children with dental manifestations of ectodermal dysplasia, including the use of dental implants. This was done using a questionnaire developed by an interdisciplinary team.

Materials And Methods: The Delphi study questionnaire was built around 19 areas of clinical relevance and included 90 items.

Prosthetic treatment time and satisfaction of edentulous patients treated with conventional or implant-stabilized complete mandibular dentures: a case-control study (part 2).

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare, prospectively, treatment with implant-retained mandibular overdentures versus conventional complete dentures.

Materials And Methods: Part 2 of this paper reports on the outcome after 7 years of denture use, using additional questionnaires.

Results: Patients with implant-stabilized overdentures continued to be more satisfied with their mandibular dentures and their diet than those using conventional complete dentures.

Prosthetic treatment time and satisfaction of edentulous patients treated with conventional or implant-supported complete mandibular dentures: a case-control study (part 1).

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare prospective treatment with implant-retained mandibular overdentures (IROs) versus conventional complete dentures (CDs). This paper reports on the study design and 1-year outcomes. Part 2 in this series will report the 7-year outcomes.

A 5-year prospective multicenter study on 1-stage smooth-surface Brånemark System implants with early loading in edentulous mandibles.

Purpose: The purpose of the current prospective multicenter study was to evaluate the 5-year implant success and peri-implant conditions of smooth-surface Brånemark System implants when using a novel technique including a 1-stage surgical procedure with early loading in edentulous mandibles.

Materials And Methods: The study protocol included 1-stage surgery as well as placement of the definitive prosthesis within 6 weeks after implant insertion (ie, early loading). Clinical evaluation, as well as evaluation of function and esthetics, was performed at each follow-up visit.

Counselling patients with hypodontia.

Unlabelled: The aim of this article is to outline the implications that a diagnosis of severe hypodontia can have on a family. This should help dentists to provide effective counselling for such patients. We will discuss the dental, psycho-social, medical, functional, educational and financial implications that this diagnosis can bring.

Midline mandibular deformation during nonmasticatory functional movements in edentulous subjects with dental implants.

Purpose: Mandibular deformation during function in patients with implant-supported prostheses is associated with increased strain at the bone-implant interface when dental implants are connected by a relatively rigid superstructure. Whilst there is a body of evidence concerning deformation as measured between the corpora, there are little data on its effects in the midline. This study measured 3 types of midline mandibular deformation during nonmasticatory functional mandibular movements in edentulous subjects with dental implants.

Specialisation and specialist education in prosthetic dentistry in Europe.

This presentation reports on the results of a meeting of prosthodontists from selected European countries. The aim of the meeting was to analyse and promote specialisation and specialist education in Prosthetic Dentistry in Europe. Representatives for Europe were selected from the European Prosthodontic Association (EPA) board, the Education and Research Committee of International College of Prosthodontists (ICP), countries with a legally recognised speciality, countries without a recognised speciality but organised training programmes and countries with neither of these situations.

Prosthodontics: a past with a future?

As one of the oldest dental specialties, prosthodontics has a long history of innovation and adaptability. This overview of the field presents landmarks in the development of prosthodontics from mediaeval times to the present and speculates on some future trends. It effectively sets the stage for the other articles in this issue, which explore the many facets of prosthodontic evolution.

Preload loss in gold prosthesis-retaining screws as a function of time.

Purpose: Screwed joints are widely used in implant dentistry, and their failure is a significant problem that may be related to loss of preload. Preload is the compressive force generated across a joint when a screw is tightened and is responsible for keeping a joint closed. For a given torque, preload is limited by the frictional resistance of the contacting screw threads, flange, and opposing joint surfaces.

Passive tactile sensibility in edentulous subjects treated with dental implants: a pilot study.

Statement Of Problem: Edentulous patients treated with implant-supported prostheses have shown increased passive tactile sensibility compared with those using conventional complete dentures. This is thought to be due to the close mechanical coupling between the implant and bone via the osseointegrated interface, yet the phenomenon has received little attention.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure passive tactile sensibility in a group of edentulous subjects treated with dental implants, and to relate the measured sensibility to a range of factors thought to be of possible relevance, namely, patient age, gender, time since implant placement, implant length, and implant separation.

3-year prospective multicenter study on one-stage implant surgery and early loading in the edentulous mandible.

Background: The long-term success rates achieved in dental implantology suggest that flexibility might well exist within the various implant systems to a degree that an altered protocol (ie, one-stage surgery and immediate or early loading) can be performed under controlled conditions. However, before variations of the protocol can be considered for general use, they must be subjected to critical analysis, particularly with respect to the predictability of osseointegration, alteration of soft tissue barrier, and relative change in bone height around the implants.

Purpose: The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to evaluate implant survival and periimplant conditions around endosseous implants placed in a one-stage surgical procedure and early loading.

Changes in passive tactile sensibility associated with dental implants following their placement.

Purpose: This study investigated the changes that might occur in passive tactile sensibility during a period of 3 months following Implant placement in a group of edentulous subjects treated with dental implants. The effect of changing the velocity of force application on passive tactile sensibility was also investigated.

Materials And Methods: Five edentulous subjects who had been treated (as a part of an immediate loading study) with 2 or more Nobel Biocare dental implants in the anterior mandible were studied.

Force transmission in bar-retained implant-stabilised mandibular over-dentures: an in-vitro study.

The effects of attachment clips on force transmission in two implant-stabilised over-dentures with cantilever extensions were investigated, using a previously developed in-vitro model, which simulated functional mandibular deformation. Two retentive configurations were used: an avoid gold bar cranked anteriorly with 13 mm distal cantilevers and the same configuration without attachment clips on the distal cantilevers. The dentures were loaded at individual tooth positions with a strain gauge beam and the forces exerted on the implants were measured using strain gauges mounted on their trans-mucosal abutments.

Advances in prosthetic dentistry.

Until recently removable prostheses were the only form of treatment for those who had lost all or most of their natural teeth, while for the partially dentate, dentures were perceived as a poor substitute for a fixed restoration, lacking stability and prone to increasing oral disease. Subsequent studies demonstrated the functional benefits of removable partial dentures (RPDs) and how they could be used with minimal oral harm.