Implant-Site Related and Patient-Based Factors With the Potential to Impact Patients' Satisfaction, Quality of Life Measures and Perceptions Toward Dental Implant Treatment.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed at evaluating both the implant site-related and patient-based factors with the potential to affect the extent of patients' satisfaction and also their perceptions regarding dental implant treatment. Potential differences between the esthetic evaluations of dental patients and dental specialists were also considered. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Implant-supported fixed prosthesis (n = 164) in 264 anterior esthetic implant sites were included. Patients' satisfaction, esthetic considerations, and perceptions toward dental implants, were evaluated by both Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire and visual analog scale. Pink Esthetic Score/White Esthetic Score were used for the professional esthetic evaluations of dental specialists. RESULTS: Overall patient satisfaction was high (87.42 ± 11.86). Compared with implant supported single-tooth restorations, patients with implant-supported bridges had lower OHIP scores (P = 0.001) and were relatively less satisfied with particular aspects of dental implant treatment (eg, cleanability, phonetics, surgical discomfort, and pretreatment information). Generally, type of prosthesis, history of soft/hard tissue augmentation, and reason for tooth loss had a clear impact on the extent of patients' satisfaction, esthetic considerations regarding treatment outcome, and their perceptions toward dental implant treatment (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Fixed implant-supported restorations generally provide with high levels of satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life.

Oral health status in a group of the elderly population residing at home.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the oral health status and treatment needs of subjects aged 65 years and older residing in different districts of Ankara. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1300 patients, 751 females and 549 males, age 65 and over with a mean age of 72.8 ± 6.34 were included in this study. The subjects were visited at home and toothbrushing habits, visiting the dentist, tooth loss, denture needs were questioned and body mass index values were recorded. RESULTS: 52.5% of the subjects were completely edentulous, 83.3% subjects reported wearing a removable denture. Females had a higher total tooth loss frequency when compared to males (p < 0.05). Total tooth loss between 65 and 69 ages was 47.3%, and increased to 62.4% among those aged 75 and over (p < 0.05). 16.2% of the subjects had not visited a dentist in the last 10 years, and only 3% visited a dentist for control check-ups; no gender-based difference was observed as to the frequency of dental visits (P > 0.05). No significant relationship was found between tooth loss and BMI values (P > 0.05). 46.3% of the subjects had chewing problems. CONCLUSIONS: The subjects included in this study showed high tooth loss frequency and poor oral hygiene habits. Education regarding maintenance of oral hygiene and regular dental check up should be stressed for the elderly.

Custom-made Gold Implant for Management of Lagophthalmos: A Case Report.

Lagophthalmos is defined as the inability to close the eyelids completely. This situation may lead to corneal problems such as epithelial defects, stromal thinning, exposure keratitis, bacterial infection, perforation, and blindness. A patient with lagophthalmos underwent insertion of a custom-made gold weight implant. After implantation, the patient was able to close her eye and expressed high cosmetic and aesthetic results. Fabrication of gold weight implant by the means of a rolling machine is an effective and easy way and should be considered in the management of lagophthalmos.

Shear bond strength evaluation of different veneering systems on Ni-Cr alloys.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength of four esthetic veneering materials on nickel-chromium (Ni-Cr) alloy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty square patterns (10 x 10 x 1.5 mm) were cast with Ni-Cr, divided equally into four groups, and received four treatments for veneering: conventional porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), Artglass, Targis/Vectris, and Biodent light-cured prosthodontic composite resins. After sandblasting of the cast metal surfaces with 50 micro m alumina, the composites were applied to the surfaces according to manufacturers' recommendations. Shear bond strength was determined at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Results were analyzed statistically with Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance and multiple comparison tests. RESULTS: Mean shear bond strength values were 34.96 MPa for PFM, 14.17 MPa for Targis/Vectris, 13.64 MPa for Artglass, and 10.56 MPa for Biodent. The PFM group exhibited significantly higher bond strength values compared with the other three groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: PFM showed considerably higher shear bond strength values than the three metal-resin bonding techniques.

A short-term clinical trial on selected outcomes for immediately loaded implant-supported mandibular overdentures.

PURPOSE: This clinical trial aimed to evaluate the outcomes of implant-supported mandibular overdentures (ISMOs) using 2 different loading protocols. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two groups of 10 edentulous patients each were selected for the study. Each patient received 2 implants placed in the mandibular canine sites. After 1 week, ISMOs were delivered to the 10 patients in the test group, while conventional mandibular dentures were delivered to the 10 patients in the control group. The conventional prostheses were converted to ISMOs after 3 months. Treatment outcomes for the ISMOs were evaluated 1 year after implant surgery. RESULTS: The number of appointments and time needed for fabrication of ISMOs revealed statistically significant differences between the patient groups. The requirements for prosthodontic maintenance of ISMOs in the test group were higher than those in the control group; however, these differences were not statistically significant. The mean marginal bone resorption for each group was 0.3 mm after 1 year. CONCLUSION: The results of this clinical trial suggest that early loading of a specific length of implants used to support mandibular overdentures does not jeopardize treatment outcomes during the first year of service.

Bifid mandibular condyle: a case report.

A case of left bifid mandibular condyle (BMC) is reported in a 36-year-old female. The patient had a history of trauma in childhood. From the radiological examination, the left condyle was seen to have two anterioposteriorly situated heads. BMC is an extremely rare condition, where the condyle is duplicated or lobulated. The literature on BMC is reviewed, and possible cause of trauma and consequences of the anomaly are discussed.

Bone SPECT imaging of patients with internal derangement of temporomandibular joint before and after splint therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) patients with disc displacement without reduction have a misaligned disc-condyle structural relation. As the condition becomes chronic, painful osteoarthritic changes may occur. For these patients, splint therapy may help to position the condyle to a more structurally compatible and functional position and to decrease the loading force of articular surfaces. The aim of this study was (1). to evaluate osseous reactions and pain relief in patients with disc displacement without reduction after splint therapy and (2). to use single photon emission tomography (SPECT) bone imaging to compare the results with the opposite joint of the patient. STUDY DESIGN: Twelve patients, who presented with pain involving the TMJ and limited mouth opening and were confirmed by soft tissue imaging as having disc displacement without reduction, were included in the study. Each patient underwent bone SPECT imaging, after which semiquantitative evaluation of transaxial images was conducted. The ratios of affected TMJ to nonaffected TMJ, affected TMJ to occipital bone, and nonaffected TMJ to occipital bone were calculated. After 6 months of splint therapy, bone SPECT examinations were repeated. RESULTS: Before splint therapy, the ratios of affected TMJ to nonaffected TMJ and of affected TMJ to occipital bone were found to be significantly higher than the ratios after splint therapy (P < 0.005). CONCLUSION: Six-month splint therapy has a positive effect on the osseous reaction and pain related to internal derangements of TMJs.

Comparison of the fracture resistance of six denture base acrylic resins.

Fracture strength of denture base resins is of great concern, and many approaches have been used to strengthen acrylic resin dentures. Fracture resistance of six commercially available acrylic resin denture base materials were compared, through impact and transverse strength tests. Three rapid heat-polymerised resins (QC 20, Meliodent and Trevalon), two high-impact strength resins (Trevalon Hi and Lucitone 199) and a strengthened injection-moulded acrylic resin (SR Ivocap plus) were included in the study. Twenty acrylic resin test specimens were fabricated from each resin. For impact strength test, ten notched specimens were tested in a Charpy-type impact tester. The other ten specimens were used for transverse strength tests, deflection and modulus of elasticity values were also determined, which were assessed with three-point bending tests using an Universal Testing Machine. Impact test values showed significant differences among acrylic resins (F= 4.817 p = 0.0). SR Ivocap resin showed the highest impact strength values, followed by Trevalon Hi and Lucitone 199. The transverse strength test values were not significant when six acrylic resins were compared (F= 1.705 p = 0.151). High-impact resins can be recommended to increase the impact strength of denture base. If the cause of fracture is mechanical or anatomical, strengthened acrylic resins and conventional acrylic resins have similar fracture resistance.

Tensile strength of type IV dental stones dried in a microwave oven.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: It is known that drying dental stones in a microwave oven can save time, but the strength of the material may be affected by different drying methods. PURPOSE: This study evaluated the diametral tensile strength (DTS) of 5 type IV gypsum products at different time intervals using microwave and air-drying methods. MATERIAL AND METHOD: . A total of 300 cylinder specimens were prepared from 5 type IV dental stones (Moldano, Amberok, Herastone, Shera-Sockel, and Fujirock; n = 60 per stone) in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations. Half of the specimens of each stone (n = 30) were dried in open air within a temperature range of 20 +/- 2 degrees C; the other half (n = 30) underwent initial setting in a silicone rubber mold in open air for 10 minutes and then were dried in a microwave oven for 10 minutes. Within these groups, 10 specimens were tested under diametral compression at each of the following time periods: 30, 60, and 120 minutes after drying. Three-way analysis of variance and Scheffe's post hoc test were performed for statistical comparisons at a significance level of P<.05. RESULTS: At all time intervals, the diametral tensile strength values for dental stones dried in a microwave oven (mean 2.99 MPa) were significantly higher (P<.01) than the values for specimens dried in open air (mean 2.53 MPa). CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, microwave oven drying had a positive effect on the diametral tensile strength of 5 type IV dental stones.