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. This article aims to schematize different scenarios requiring implant provisionalization and propose strategies to help the clinician condition the peri-implant tissues, respecting perio-prosthodontic fundamentals for soft tissue, biological, and esthetic stability. CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: The clinical outcomes of modern implant therapy aim to achieve results that emulate natural dentition. Different scenarios may require adjunct therapy, including hard- and soft-tissue grafting, which complicates treatment. The provisionalization strategy will vary depending on the initial condition of the tissues, the need for reconstructive procedures, and the timing of implant placement. Selecting the right strategy based on the case type is necessary to reduce treatment time and complications associated with inadequate prosthetic handling of the soft tissues. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Proper emergence profile conditioning through provisional restorations will allow for biologically sound and esthetically pleasing outcomes in implant restorations.

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. This article describes the different approaches to reconstructing pontic sites and their indications to allow for a proper esthetic and biological environment for future restorations. CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Depending on the severity of the defect, location, and the esthetic necessity, pontic site enhancement can be done through different approaches, some requiring soft tissue grafting, hard tissue grafting, or both. Understanding the indications of the treatment options is essential to allow the clinician to make the right therapeutic decision and achieve the best possible perio-prosthodontic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: An adequate balance between the soft tissue and prosthetics is essential to achieve successful results on implant-supported or tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs). Selecting the right approach to treat ridge deformities is necessary to increase treatment success, reduce over-treatment, and create a biologically sound environment for restorations. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Pontic site enhancement through reconstructive surgery will allow for esthetically pleasing and biologically stable results, allowing restorations to emulate natural structures lost after tooth extraction.

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. Four incisions are made with a scalpel blade to create, or "draw," a square outline instead of raising a flap at the tuberosity to harvest a hard- and soft-tissue block. In addition, a tunneling approach is described to graft the site while preserving the recipient area's vascularity. Harvesting a hard- and soft-tissue block from the tuberosity in a minimally invasive manner preserves the donor site and helps to reconstruct a class III alveolus in one single appointment, thereby reducing morbidity, costs, and treatment time.

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). METHODS: A 45-year-old man complaining of pain in tooth #3 came to the clinic. Tooth #3 was non-restorable due to an extensive caries and a vertical root fracture of the mesiobuccal root, leading to a total loss of the buccal cortical plate. Guided autotransplantation of tooth #1 was completed by using 3-dimensional surgical templates for implant burs and a 3-dimensional-printed replica. After positioning the donor tooth, the cortical plate was fixed to the recipient socket with osteosynthesis screws. A connective tissue graft was also harvested to increase the band of keratinized gingiva and the thickness of the buccal soft tissue. At 6-month follow-up, the screws were removed, showing excellent regeneration throughout the buccal area. RESULTS: At 3-year follow-up, the transplanted tooth was asymptomatic, with a natural bone level and no signs of replacement or inflammatory root resorption. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a donor tooth and its attached bone cortical plate combined simultaneously with a connective tissue graft appears to improve hard and soft tissues in a single procedure.

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. Proper conditioning of the soft tissues during the interim restoration stage and adequate communication with the laboratory are also critical factors to a successful outcome. This article describes the different approaches to restoring pontic sites with different degrees of complexity, their clinical indications, and limitations viewed from a perio-prosthodontic approach. CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Different clinical scenarios for pontic sites require different approaches. Missing hard and soft tissues can be replaced by surgical or prosthetic means. Understanding the clinical indications and implications of the different pontic designs allows the clinician to make good decisions when planning and treating patients that require replacement of pontic spaces leading to more successful outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Different pontic designs have specific indications as well as biologic and esthetic prognoses. Selection of a good design, proper modifications during the provisionalization stage, and adequate communication with the dental laboratory will lead to higher chances of esthetic and biological success. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The proper pontic design allows for esthetically pleasing pontic sites which emulate natural emergence from the soft tissues while promoting biological stability.

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. For this reason, additional surgical techniques have been developed, such as the placement of a connective tissue graft (CTG) or the socket shield technique (SST). Dimensional changes in the peri-implant tissues were observed after placement of immediate implants following the extraction and CTG and/or SST. A total of 26 surgical interventions were carried out in which dimensional change variables of peri-implant tissues were analyzed. The preoperative state and immediate postoperative situation were compared with the situation after one year. Measurements were taken at 3, 5, and 7 mm from the gingival margin and analyzed in this CBCT radiological study (Planmeca Promax 3D). The implant platform was used as a reference point for the measurement of changes in alveolar crest height. One year after performing either of the two techniques (CTG and/or SST), a significant increase in the gingiva thickness and vestibular cortex occurred at 5 mm (0.65 ± 1.16 mm) and 7 mm (0.95 ± 1.45 mm) from the gingival margin. Additionally, an increase in thickness of palatal bone was registered at 3 mm (0.48 ± 0.90 mm). The graft placement group showed an increase in thickness of peri-implant tissue in the vestibular area after one year, although CTG and SST groups were clinically similar. The implementation of SST revealed promising results regarding the buccal thickness of hard and soft tissues after one year. A significant increase in vestibular cortical bone thickness, as well as the overall mucosa thickness and buccal bone at 3 mm from the gingival margin, was observed. A significant reduction in the distance from the bone crest to the platform was detected in both techniques. Both techniques (CTG and SST) are appropriate to provide sufficient volume to peri-implant tissues in the vestibular area of anterior maxillary implants. Some limitations were detected, such as the lack of an aesthetic analysis or small sample size, so results should be interpreted with caution. Future studies are necessary to further evaluate the long-term predictability of these techniques.

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. An ideal esthetic result can be achieved by soft tissue overcorrection through periodontal procedures, which reduce the number of conditioning appointments of the pontic sites. Many pontic designs have been described to enhance the appearance of the restored sites. The flat (F) and step (S) pontic designs are a modification of classic pontic approaches. These designs contact the mucosa in a wide area of a previously reconstructed ridge without exerting excessive pressure, reducing the possibility of inflammation, ulceration, and facilitating cleaning. This periodontal-prosthodontic procedure aims to achieve functional and esthetic prosthodontic results in a predictable manner. CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Understanding which pontic design is recommended in different clinical situations is key for a successful outcome. The F and S pontic designs are recommended to be used in a ridge with optimal soft tissue volume after periodontal reconstruction. The suggested designs provide the clinician with a solution to different clinical scenarios after the periodontal augmentation of the pontic site has been done. CONCLUSIONS: The presented pontic designs are indicated in ridges where a previous soft tissue preservation or reconstruction procedure has been done to achieve an optimal soft tissue volume. Modifications to the designs can be done in the interim stage which is later replicated into the final restoration. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The combination of periodontal and prosthodontic techniques help to predictably achieve a natural looking pontic emergence profile.

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. METHODS: A 42-year-old man complaining of pain and increased mobility in the maxillary left primary canine came to the clinic. Autotransplantation of the impacted canine was completed using altered methods from guided implant surgery to manufacture 3D-printed templates. After a full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap elevation, the surgical template for the guided osteotomy and apicoectomy was inserted. This 3D-printed guide allowed the clinician to perform a quick and precise removal of the curved apex, providing an atraumatic extraction of the impacted canine throughout the cyst. Three further 3D surgical guides for implant burs and a 3D replica tooth were printed to modify the recipient socket. After the final position, the tooth was semi-rigid splinted to the adjacent teeth. RESULTS: Follow-up at 2 years showed complete regeneration of the palatal defect and remodeling of the bone surrounding the maxillary canine. CONCLUSIONS: Digitally planned procedures can facilitate the complex execution of an autotransplantation, reducing the treatment chair time and the morbidity for the patient as well as increasing the predictability of the result.

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. OVERVIEW: The EBC concept considers specific parameters for proper design of the emergence profile of implant-supported restorations. Understanding the different zones of the emergence profile and their relation to factors like implant position, implant design, and soft tissue thickness is key. The suggested guidelines are geared toward providing more stable and esthetic results when restoring dental implants in the esthetic zone. CONCLUSIONS: Each of the zones described in the EBC concept have a specific function in the design of the emergence profile. Understanding the importance and specific design features of the EBC zones facilitates esthetic and biologically sound treatment outcomes with interim and definitive implant restorations. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Proper emergence profile design supports esthetic outcomes and provides favorable biological response to implant-supported restorations.

Autotransplantation of impacted maxillary canines into surgically modified sockets and orthodontic treatment: a 4-year follow-up case report.

The permanent maxillary canine is the second most frequently impacted or displaced tooth. The standard treatment for an impacted canine includes, among other things, surgical exposure and orthodontic alignment. Surgical techniques for this procedure vary depending on whether the tooth is labially or palatally impacted, while orthodontic techniques vary according to clinical judgment and experience. Autotransplantation is a treatment alternative for impacted canines with complete root formation. The success of tooth transplantation depends on the vitality of the periodontal ligament (PDL) attached to the donor tooth, and its viability decreases when it is exposed extraorally. This article reports on maxillary canine autotransplantations combined with connective tissue grafts (CTGs) and orthodontics. The recipient mesiodistal space was created orthodontically and the recipient socket was prepared using dental implant drills. Following transplantation, bone defects were grafted using guided bone regeneration (GBR). At 4 years post-transplantation, the soft tissue level was stable and periapical radiographs showed a practically normal contour of the alveolar crest around teeth 13 and 23. The two permanent canines presented no root resorption and ankylosis, and no signs of inflammation or bleeding were observed. The procedure used in this case report demonstrates that canine transplantation combined with GBR, plastic surgery procedures, and orthodontic treatment may yield acceptable and predictable esthetic results.

The four-layer graft technique, a hard and soft tissue graft from the tuberosity in one piece.

OBJECTIVE: Successful immediate implant placement in the maxillary anterior zone continues to be a challenge. There is an uncertainty on whether it should be performed on patients with thin gingival phenotype or incomplete buccal plate. This clinical case report describes a novel technique for immediate implant placement with simultaneous hard and soft tissue augmentation. CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: This technique employs a combined epithelialized-subepithelialized connective tissue graft and cortical-cancellous autogenous bone graft for the treatment of incomplete buccal plate at an extraction site. Significant horizontal bone regeneration appears to have been achieved as well as soft tissue augmentation for a central incisor in a single surgical step. Following three and a half years, gingival contours and bone augmentation were stable with a pleasant esthetic result. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the four-layer tissue graft for immediate implant placement can be suggested to improve hard and soft tissues in a single procedure. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The use of the four-layer graft technique has shown to be successful regarding function and esthetic outcomes in anterior immediate implant placement. It reduces surgical interventions and treatment time and minimizes soft tissue recession and bone resorption.

Papilla and pontic area regeneration in patient with gingival smile: A clinical case.

PURPOSE: Connective tissue grafts are widely documented as a predictable technique for treating Miller Class I and II recessions, as well as procedures in which soft tissue augmentation is required for aesthetic reasons. This article aims to explore the resolution of a clinical case with this type of problema. CLINICAL CASE: This case describes a technique for reconstructing a pontic area and adjacent papilla by means of two consecutive connective tissue grafts. The first graft served to increase the amount of tissue in the horizontal direction, and the second promoted vertical reconstruction of the defect. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In cases with aesthetic requirements, restorative intervention may be able to mask tissue loss, but it can hardly achieve optimal aesthetic results. Periodontal plastic surgery techniques can be used to achieve that ideal result. The clinician must diagnose conditions in order to select correct treatment regimen for each individual case. Key words:Papilla, gingival smile, pontic, restorative dentistry.

Three steps to maintain predictable interdental papilla and gingiva emergence profiles in immediate implant placement. A 3-year follow-up case report.

We present a case that describes a three-step clinical technique to provide guidelines to replace fractured teeth with immediate implant placement using the same dental structure as a temporary crown and a regenerative approach. This approach predictably maintains the interdental papilla and gingiva emergence profile to ensure a favorable cosmetic result. A 3-year follow-up has shown good clinical outcomes and stability in crestal bone levels. Consequently, this is an innovative way to do temporary crown and design restorations in everyday clinical practice. Key words:Interdental papilla, dental implant, inmmediate implant, gingival aesthetics, dental aesthetics.

Autotransplantation of Mandibular Third Molar with Buccal Cortical Plate to Replace Vertically Fractured Mandibular Second Molar: A Novel Technique.

Tooth replacement often leads to inadequate vertical volume in the recipient site bone when a tooth has been extracted because of a vertical root fracture (VRF). This case report presents the autotransplantation of a mandibular third molar (tooth #32) with the attached buccal cortical plate to replace a mandibular second molar (tooth #31) diagnosed with a VRF. After extraction of tooth #31, the recipient socket was prepared based on the size measured in advance with cone-beam computed tomographic imaging. The precise and calculated osteotomy of the cortical bone of tooth #32 allowed for the exact placement of the donor tooth in the position of tooth #31. The total extraoral time was only 25 minutes. The block was fixed to the recipient socket with an osteosynthesis screw and splinted with a double resin wire for 8 weeks. At the 6-month follow-up, the screw was removed, and the stability of the tooth and the regeneration obtained throughout the vestibular area were confirmed. At the 2-year follow-up, the transplanted tooth was asymptomatic and maintained a normal bone level. Advantages of autotransplantation over dental implants include maintenance of proprioception, possible orthodontic movements, and a relatively low cost. This case report demonstrates that an autotransplantation of a third molar attached to its buccal cortical plate is a viable option to replace teeth with a VRF.