Clinical study on the comparison of gold and zirconia wear in an implant-supported fixed prosthesis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the wear of a prosthesis for 6 months after restoration with implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis made of either zirconia or gold. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on patients requiring implant-supported fixed dental prostheses on first or second molar from January, 2015 to January, 2016. A total of 47 prostheses and antagonists were examined. Occlusal surface was recorded by impression of each prosthesis and antagonist 1 week and 6 months after prosthesis delivery. The digital files were created by impression scan. Occlusal shapes of 1 week and 6 months were compared and wear of prostheses and antagonists was analyzed. The Mann-Whitney test was used to analyzed the result data underwent normality test using SPSS (Version 23.0, IBM Corporation) RESULTS: Mann-Whitney test revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in the median amount of mean vertical wear for 6 months in zirconia (50.84 μm) and gold (42.84 μm) prostheses (P > 0.05). When the opposing teeth were natural, the median amount of mean vertical wear of zirconia and gold prostheses was 47.72 μm and 41.97 μm, respectively, and the median amount of mean vertical wear of enamel was 47.26 μm and 44.59 μm, respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Despite the short study period and the small number of experimental groups, zirconia and gold showed no significant difference in wear during the first 6 months. Opposing natural enamel also showed no significant difference in the wear.

Usfullness of Partial Muscle Flaps and Combination Method for Coverage of Prosthetic Material in Chest Wall Reconstruction

PURPOSE: Reconstruction of chest wall has always been a challenging problem. Muscle flaps for chest wall reconstruction have been helpful in controling infection, filling dead space and covering the prosthetic material in this challenge. However, when we use muscle flaps, functional and cosmetic donor site morbidities could occur. The authors applied and revised various partial muscle flaps and combination use of them to cover the prosthetic material for the chest wall reconstruction and evaluated the usefulness of partial muscle flaps. METHODS: This study included 7 patients who underwent chest wall reconstruction using partial muscle flap to cover prosthetic material from 2004 to 2008. The pectoralis major muscle was used in anterior 2/3 parts of it leaving lateral 1/3 parts of it. The anterior 2/3 parts of the pectoralis major muscle were used while lateral 1/3 parts were left. In case of the rectus abdominis muscle flap, we used upper half of it, or we dissected it around its origin and then advanced to cover the site. The latissimus dorsi muscle flap was elevated with lateral portion of it along the descending branch of the thoracodorsal artery. If single partial muscle flap could not cover whole prosthetic material, it would be covered with combination of various partial muscle flaps adjacent to the coverage site. RESULTS: Flap coverage of the prosthetic material and chest wall reconstructions were successfully done. There occurred no immediate and delayed post operative complications such as surgical site infection, seroma, deformity of donor site and functional impairment. CONCLUSION: When we use the muscle flaps to cover prosthetic material for chest wall reconstruction, use of the partial muscle flaps could be a good way to reduce donor site morbidity. Combination of multiple partial flaps could be a valuable and good alternative way to overcome the disadvantages of partial muscle flaps such as limitation of volume and size as well as flap mobility.