Timing implant provisionalization: Decision-making and systematic workflow.

Objective: Provisionalization is an important step to achieve esthetic results in implant cases, and many different techniques for provisional restoration fabrication have been described. However, depending on the clinical scenario, the provisionalization strategy will require different approaches and timing. The clinician should modify the provisional restorations efficiently to reduce the number of disconnections from the implant, as repeated disconnections may have biological consequences.

Perio-prosthodontic pontic site management, part II: Pontic site reconstruction strategies to enhance the esthetic and biological outcomes.

Objective: Ridge deformities are present in most patients after tooth extraction; these defects make the management of future implant and pontic sites challenging to deal with. The restorative team should be able to diagnose and treat these deformities to allow for successful outcomes. Many approaches have been described to reconstruct pontic sites, each with specific indications.

Use of Tuberosity Tissue Block for Tunneling Reconstruction of Class III Sockets With Simultaneous Implant Placement: A Case Report.

Immediate implant placement in the anterior maxilla remains a complex procedure, particularly when the cortical bone plate of the socket is not intact and a gingival recession is present. The reconstruction of both hard and soft tissues increases the complexity of these clinical scenarios. This case report describes a novel, minimally invasive technique to reconstruct class III sockets with simultaneous implant placement.

Perio-prosthodontic pontic site management, part I: Pontic designs and their current applications.

Objective: Emulating natural dentition with dental implant restorations is challenging, increasing its complexity when a pontic area must be restored. Many different methods have been described to solve this problem. The pontic designs which have been proposed have specific indications and may require additional treatments, including soft tissue augmentation procedures, to increase the possibility of an esthetically pleasing and biologically tolerable outcome.

Autotransplantation of Maxillary Third Molar with Its Attached Buccal Cortical Plate Combined with a Connective Tissue Graft.

Introduction: Tooth replacement often leads to insufficient vertical volume in the recipient socket bone. The aim of this novel report is to present a successful fully guided autotransplantation of a maxillary right third molar (tooth #1) with its attached buccal plate. The procedure was combined with a palatal connective tissue graft to reconstruct a buccal hard and soft tissue defect of an irreparable maxillary right first molar (tooth #3).

Clinical outcomes of the biologically oriented preparation technique (BOPT) in fixed dental prostheses: A systematic review.

Statement Of Problem: The biologically oriented preparation technique is a concept with a vertical tooth preparation, gingitage, an immediate interim restoration preserving the clot, and a specific laboratory technique aiming to adapt the marginal periodontal tissue to a remodeled emergence profile of the crown. However, the published scientific evidence on this subject is limited.

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to analyze whether using the biologically oriented preparation technique leads to improved clinical outcomes in terms of probing depth, gingival inflammation index, gingival marginal stability, and fewer mechanical and biological complications.

The flat and step (F and S) pontics. Novel pontic designs for periodontally reconstructed sites.

Objective: Fixed dental prostheses are a predictable treatment option to replace missing teeth. A periodontal-prosthodontic approach to rehabilitating those areas ensures a predictable way to achieve the desired esthetic and functional results. This is especially important in cases with high esthetic demand.

Dimensional Changes in the Alveolus after a Combination of Immediate Postextraction Implant and Connective Grafting and/or Socket Shield Technique.

Immediate implant placement protocols after dental extraction have enabled a reduction in surgical phases. This procedure has increased patient satisfaction and similar survival rates to late implant placement procedures. However, placing an implant immediately after dental extraction does not counteract the physiological remodeling of alveolar bone.

Impacted Maxillary Canine with Curved Apex: Three-Dimensional Guided Protocol for Autotransplantation.

Introduction: Maxillary canines play a crucial role in dental and facial aspect, arch expansion, and efficient occlusion. When surgical exposure measures cannot be executed or the patient does not agree to take the treatment, autotransplantation should be considered. The aim of this case report was to describe a novel surgical technique using virtually planned three-dimensional (3D)-printed templates for guided apicoectomy and guided drilling of the recipient site for autotransplantation of an impacted maxillary canine with a curved apex.

The biotransfer approach: The use of an alveolar cast die for the fabrication of the emergence profile on implant-supported interim restorations.

Maintaining natural-looking soft tissues around dental implants is one of the biggest challenges for the restorative team. To achieve this, the emergence profile of the preexisting teeth in the alveolus can be emulated rather than conditioning the soft tissue architecture arbitrarily. The biotransfer technique uses an interim restoration with a biologically driven emergence profile fabricated before the implant surgery.

The Impact of 3D Implant Position on Emergence Profile Design.

Implant position and soft tissue thickness have a direct influence on implant abutment design. The goal is to place the implant in the optimal spatial position to maintain the adjacent bone and soft tissues. When the implant is not placed ideally, prosthetic variations to abutments and restorations must be made, which may limit the esthetic appearance of the final restoration or alter the biologic environment of the bone and tissues.

The esthetic biological contour concept for implant restoration emergence profile design.

Objective: Emergence profile design is important for stable peri-implant tissues and esthetically pleasing results with dental implant restorations, influenced by factors, such as, implant position and surrounding soft tissues. Different aspects of the emergence profile have been described, but detailed explanations of the different zones and corresponding designs are missing. This article describes the esthetic biological contour concept (EBC), differentiating important areas of the emergence profile and recommending particular designs for those zones.

Wear of resin teeth opposing zirconia.

Statement Of Problem: The use of dissimilar materials for opposing complete-mouth implant-supported prosthesis has become popular, especially when one arch is made from anatomical contour zirconia. However, the amount of wear zirconia causes on resin and other denture tooth materials is largely unknown.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the volumetric wear of 4 commercially available resin materials used for denture teeth in complete-arch implant-supported prostheses opposed by zirconia.

The utilization of snap-on provisionals for dental veneers: From an analog to a digital approach.

Objective: There are multiple treatment options to enhance a patient's smile, from conservative bleaching procedures to composite resins, porcelain veneers, or full-coverage crowns. Treating patients with porcelain veneers is a commonly used approach in esthetic dentistry. Provisional restorations for veneers can be time-consuming to make and difficult to retain.

Dual-space technique for creating cement space in a cementation device for implant dentistry: A predictable chairside approach.

As residual excess cement in peri-implant tissues is a problem that can lead to implant failure, great care must be taken when delivering cement-retained crowns. Cement selection, prosthetic design, and cementation techniques can reduce the chances of having excess cement in peri-implant tissues. Multiple techniques have been described, but, in many, the cement space has been reproduced by unreliable means.

Assessment of gingival symmetry with digital measuring tools and its reproducibility.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of digital measuring tools to measure the position of gingival zeniths and to assess its reproducibility between different examiners.

Materials And Methods: A total of 108 subjects were photographed at the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry. The settings, positioning of the digital camera, and subjects' Frankfurt levels were standardized.