Publications by authors named "Stefan Fickl"

Objective: To clinically and histologically evaluate the potential effect of a cross-linked, high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (xHyA) on the outcomes of guided bone regeneration performed with a demineralized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) covered with a natural collagen membrane.

Method And Materials: Eleven patients (eight females and three males, mean age 53 years) with a total of 27 surgical sites were treated. Treatments were performed with either DBBM and natural collagen membrane fixed with tacks (group A) or DBBM mixed with xHyA and subsequently covered with natural collagen membrane (group B).

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Bone regenerative procedures have been widely proved to be a reliable treatment option to re-create the ideal pre-implant clinical conditions. Nevertheless, these techniques are not free from post-operative complications which might result in implant failure. Consequently, as demonstrated by the increasing recently published evidence, a careful pre- and intra-operative flap evaluation to ensure an ideal and hermetic tension-free wound closure is of paramount importance to successfully treat bony defects.

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This controlled clinical trial evaluated the impact of a specific collagen peptide food supplement on parameters of periodontal inflammation in aftercare patients. A total of 39 study patients were enrolled. At baseline, bleeding on probing (BoP; primary outcome), gingival index (GI), plaque control record (PCR), recession (REC) and probing pocket depth (PPD) for the calculation of the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) were documented.

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Various biomaterial combinations have been studied focusing on their ability to stabilize blood clots and maintain space under soft tissue to support new bone formation. A popular combination is Deproteinized Bovine Bone Mineral (DBBM) placed with a native collagen membrane (NCM) tacked to native bone. In this study, we compared the outcome of this treatment option to those achieved with three different graft/membrane combinations with respect to total newly occupied area and the mineralized compound inside.

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Objectives: This systematic review assessed the influence of soft tissue augmentation procedures on marginal bone level changes in partial or fully edentulous patients.

Material And Methods: We identified three relevant PICO questions related to soft tissue augmentation procedures and conducted a systematic search of four major electronic databases for clinical studies in systemically healthy patients receiving at least one dental implant and a minimum follow-up of one year after implant placement. The primary outcome was mean difference in marginal bone levels, and secondary outcomes were clinical and patient-related outcomes such as thickness of peri-implant mucosa, bleeding indices, and Pink Esthetic Score.

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Objectives: The task of working Group 2 at the 6th Consensus Meeting of the European Association for Osseointegration was to comprehensively assess the effects of soft tissue augmentation procedures at dental implant sites on clinical, radiographic and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) including an overview on available outcome measures and methods of assessment.

Materials And Methods: Three systematic reviews and one critical review were performed in advance on (i) the effects of soft tissue augmentation procedures on clinical, radiographic and aesthetic outcomes, (ii) reliability and validity of outcome measures and methods of assessment and (iii) PROMs applied in clinical studies for soft tissue augmentation procedures at dental implant sites. Major findings, consensus statements, clinical recommendations and implications for future research were discussed in the group and approved during the plenary sessions.

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Background: During the fourth Summer Camp (SC) held by the European Association of Osseointegration (EAO), 20 junior representatives from various European and non-European universities and associations were selected to partake in oral presentation and communication skill development.

Aims: The aim of the EAO Summer Camp (EAO SC) was to identify new methods of enhancing participants' abilities to engage, influence and lead in a professional environment, on both a clinical and scientific level.

Materials And Methods: Four different groups were assigned to discuss one of two topics: (1) an Implant Register and (2) Digital Dentistry.

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Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of internal silver coating as a countermeasure to crestal bone loss around implants with or without multiple abutment disconnections/reconnections.

Materials And Methods: Following tooth extraction, 48 implants with connected healing abutments (24 implants internally coated with elemental silver) were placed in the mandible of eight beagle dogs. Two months after implant surgery one side of the mandible was randomly assigned to four abutment manipulations (disconnection/reconnection) on a weekly basis.

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Purpose: To evaluate the effects of intra-alveolar socket grafting, subepithelial connective tissue grafts, and individualized abutments on peri-implant hard and soft tissue outcomes following immediate implant placement.

Methods: This randomized experimental study employed 5 mongrel dogs, with 4 sites per dog (total of 20 sites). The mesial roots of P3 and P4 were extracted in each hemimandible and immediate dental implants were placed.

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Background: The transition from a tooth requiring extraction to its replacement (with a dental implant) requires a series of clinical decisions related to timing, approach, materials, cost-effectiveness and the assessment of potential harm and patient preference. This workshop focused on the formulation of evidence-based consensus statements and clinical recommendations.

Methods: Four systematic reviews covering the areas of alveolar ridge preservation/bone grafting, immediate early and delayed implant placement and alveolar bone augmentation at the time of implant placement in a healed ridge formed the basis of the deliberations.

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Aim: To cross-sectionally analyse the submucosal microbiome of peri-implantitis (PI) lesions at different severity levels.

Materials And Methods: Microbial signatures of 45 submucosal plaque samples from untreated PI lesions obtained from 30 non-smoking, systemically healthy subjects were assessed by 16s sequencing. Linear mixed models were used to identify taxa with differential abundance by probing depth, after correction for age, gender, and multiple samples per subject.

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Objectives: Working Group 5 was assigned the task to review the current knowledge in the area of digital technologies. Focused questions on accuracy of linear measurements when using CBCT, digital vs. conventional implant planning, using digital vs.

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Objectives: The aim of Working Group 1 was to address the influence of different local (implant length, diameter, and design) and systemic (medications) factors on clinical, radiographic, and patient-reported outcomes in implant dentistry. Focused questions on (a) short posterior dental implants (≤6 mm), (b) narrow diameter implants, (c) implant design (tapered compared to a non-tapered implant design), and (d) medication-related dental implant failures were addressed.

Materials And Methods: Four systematic reviews were prepared in advance of the Consensus Conference and were discussed among the participants of Group 1.

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Background: During the third Summer Camp of European Association of Osseointegration (EAO), 40 junior representatives from various European societies and associations were brought together to discuss and explore the following topics in Implant Dentistry in the next 10 years: (I) certification, (II) societies and associations, (III) continuing education, and (IV) innovations.

Aims: The aims of all working groups were to identify and outline the present situation in the area of the selected topic and to propose improvements and innovations to be implemented in the following 10 years.

Materials And Methods: Four different groups were assigned randomly to one of the four working units.

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The objectives of this study were to determine the quantitative changes after different ridge preservation techniques (primary aim) and to assess the possibility of placing a dental implant, the bone quality, and the need for bone augmentation (secondary aim). A total of 35 patients who required extraction of at least one tooth (incisor, canine, or premolar) provided 35 single-gap extraction sites. After minimally invasive tooth removal, the sockets were randomly scheduled for one of four treatment modalities: placement of a deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM; Endobon, Biomet 3i) covered with a soft tissue punch from the palate (T1); placement of DBBM alone (T2); placement of DBBM covered with a resorbable collagen membrane (OsseoGuard, Biomet 3i) (T3); or no additional treatment (T4).

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The aim of this retrospective case control study was to compare a porcine collagen matrix (Mucograft Seal, Geistlich) with a free gingival punch graft with respect to size, invagination, and color of resulting soft tissue scar formation. Following definition of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 22 patients were retrospectively included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups.

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Aim: This study assessed the impact of anti-infective periodontal therapy on the status of vascular health.

Materials And Methods: Periodontal and vascular health of 55 patients with severe untreated chronic periodontitis was evaluated before and 12 months after anti-infective periodontal therapy. Observed parameters were bleeding on probing (BoP), pocket probing depth (PPD), periodontal inflamed surface area index (PISA), pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), central pulse pressure (PPao) and peripheral systolic pressure (RRsys).

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Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between gingival biotypes and gingival thickness based on probe transparency through the gingival margin and to assess the sensitivity of a novel classification method.

Material And Methods: Sixty adult Caucasian subjects were stratified by their gingival biotype (GB) as defined by the transparency of a prototype double-ended periodontal probe through the buccal gingival margin into "thin" (30 subjects), "moderate" (15 subjects), and "thick" (15 subjects) GB. Three additional parameters were also assessed: gingival thickness (GT), probing depth (PD), and gingival width (GW).

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The objective of this study was to quantitatively determine ridge contour changes after different alveolar ridge preservation techniques. An initial total of 40 patients provided a final total of 35 single-gap extraction sites. After tooth removal, the socket was subjected to one of four treatment modalities: placement of a deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM; Endobon) covered with a soft tissue punch from the palate (Tx1); placement of DBBM without soft tissue punch (Tx2); placement of an adsorbable collagen membrane (Osseoguard) covering the DBBM (Tx3); and no additional treatment (control).

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Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between crown length as well as crown width and gingival morphotypes (primary aim) and their correlation with tooth shape and papilla height (secondary aim).

Material And Methods: Thirty-six adult subjects were evaluated in this clinical study according to their gingival morphotype (GM) defined by transparency of a periodontal probe through the buccal gingival margin. Eighteen subjects comprised the thin entity group and 18 the control group thick entity, respectively.

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The aim of this clinical case series was to evaluate the clinical performance of the modified tunnel technique for treatment of multiple gingival recessions in the anterior mandible. A total of 20 patients with 63 Miller Class I and II defects were treated via a modified tunnel technique with subepithelial connective tissue graft. At baseline and 6 months postoperative, recession depth, probing pocket depth, width of keratinized tissue, and gingival tissue thickness were assessed.

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Objective: Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) have been associated with periodontitis. Previous studies revealed HLA-A9 and HLA-B15 as potential susceptibility factors, while HLA-A2 and HLA-B5 might have protective effects. The aim of the study was to verify these associations in a group of HLA-typed blood donors with previously unknown periodontal status.

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Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the quality of life of periodontally compromised patients after implant treatment (primary aim) and their satisfaction with the restoration and treatment approach (secondary aim).

Material And Methods: In this study, 61 adult subjects were evaluated following non-surgical periodontal treatment, under regular maintenance and implant therapy with a fixed restoration. Oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) was assessed using the German short form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-G14).

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Peri-implant mucosal recessions can be a major esthetic problem in the anterior zone, whereas in the functional zone the coverage of exposed implants is not of primary significance, as methods to clean these structures are more important. In these situations free gingival grafts are often used to deepen the vestibule and increase the amount of attached keratinized mucosa. Complete coverage of mucosal recessions around dental implants is still a challenging procedure, but it seems that recessions up to 2 mm can be successfully grafted with subepithelial connective tissue grafts.

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Restoring failing anterior teeth with a dental implant is considered a complex treatment even with thorough biologic knowledge of the situation. The goal is to produce a result in which the labial soft tissues and the papillae remain stable over time. Treatment of the fresh extraction socket in the alveolar ridge presents a challenge in everyday clinical practice.

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