ABSTRACT
Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a group of diverse hereditary connective tissue disorders. Various EDS subtypes present as different diseases. Periodontitis of early onset is a major criterion of periodontal EDS (pEDS). This article reports the clinical case of two siblings, young adults, who came to the clinic for diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease. The patients had already been diagnosed with pEDS several months earlier after being referred for genetic testing by a dermatologist. It should be noted that in these siblings pEDS had been misinterpreted for years by health care specialists despite the patients' periodontal disease, which had appeared at the age of 3 years. The subsequent effects of periodontal disease in these patients jeopardized the survival prognosis of their teeth. It may be stated that, in spite of pEDS's status as a rare syndrome, the dental practitioner can play a key role in the early diagnosis by responding appropriately to periodontal manifestations at early stages. (Quintessence Int 2021;52:166-174; doi: 10.3290/j.qi.a45263)
.Subject(s)
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome , Siblings , Dentists , Early Diagnosis , Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome/diagnosis , Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome/genetics , Humans , Professional RoleABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the soft tissue changes around implants in the aesthetic zone, placed under a trimodal approach (immediate post-extraction placement, flapless, and immediate provisional restoration) and its relationship to gingival/periodontal biotype of the patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 14 patients from two private practices that were in need of a tooth extraction in the anterior maxillary region (cuspid to cuspid) and were candidates to a replacement with a dental implant. An initial measurement (baseline) of the position or the mesial and distal papillae and gingival zenith was made at this time, with a rigid dental-supported stent and an electronic precision caliper, able to the second tenth of a millimeter; after careful tooth extraction, the periodontal thickness, at a point 5 mm apical to de gingival buccal margin, with an analogical thickness gauge, able to one tenth of a millimeter. Once the implant was inserted an immediate provisional restoration was delivered. To evaluate the soft tissue changes measurements were repeated at 3, 6, and 12 months. A statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the changes in the gingival margin around the implant restorations and to identify a possible correlation to patient's periodontal thickness. RESULTS: All 14 patients received Straumann (®) implants (9 Tissue Level [TL] Regular Neck [RN], 2 TL Narrow Neck [NN], 2 Bone Level [BL] Narrow Crossfit [NC], and 1 BL Regular Crossfit [RC]). All implants integrated and none had any biological complications. Three provisional restorations presented screw loosening and retightened once and one loss retention and was recemented once. In one patient, with a severe bruxing habit, the final restoration suffered screw loosening and was retightened. Of the final restorations, 12 were screw-retained and 2 cemented on custom-made Zirconia abutments. A mean recession of the buccal margin of 0.45 mm was recorded at 12 months ( ± 0.25 mm). An acceptable papilla level was present in all cases at 1 year, with mean changes of 0.38 mm ( ± 0.60) for the mesial and 0.80 mm ( ± 0.90) of the distal papilla, respectively. No correlation could be established between the soft tissue changes and the periodontal biotype of the patient. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, the good aesthetic outcome and minimal complications seem to validate the trimodal approach protocol as a reliable and simple protocol to place and restore immediate implants in the aesthetic zone. No correlation between the patient's gingival biotype and the soft tissue alterations could be established. Additional studies are needed to verify long-term aesthetic results with this approach and to better define and quantify biotypes.
