ABSTRACT
A new application of a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) post-core restoration combined with polyvinylsiloxane (PVS) attachments was proposed and substantiated. This study aimed to evaluate retentive characteristics of the PEEK post-core restoration with PVS attachment systems. Specimens with PVS attachments were fabricated to evaluate retention force during 10,000 cyclic dislodgements. Additionally, the retention forces of PVS attachments with three different values of Shore hardness were further measured before and after aging treatments. The results of cyclic dislodgement test indicated a strong negative linear relationship between the cyclic times and retention force (p < 0.0001, r = -0.957). Furthermore, the retention forces of the PVS were significantly improved with Shore hardness increased, which was also affected by the aging treatment (F (2, 138) = 10.95, p < 0.0001). Therefore, the PEEK post-core restoration with PVS attachments exhibited the favorable retention force, which could be a promising alternative for dental prostheses.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Regev et al. first re-introduced the method of atraumatic tooth extraction with orthodontic elastics in 2008. Since then, the method has been mentioned regularly in literature. Nevertheless, the need for additional more detailed information remains. METHODS: We present a review of literature and a retrospective analysis of our three patients receiving bisphosphonate medication. Two of our patients suffered from bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). All three patients underwent atraumatic tooth extraction, which we describe in detail. RESULTS: Regev et al. reported satisfactory results using the novel method. We removed six teeth in two patients with continued chemotherapy or bisphosphonate therapy in a time span of 26.2 ± 16.4 weeks successfully. None of the patients developed exposed bone in the follow-up (7.4 ± 0.2 months). In one case, the technique had to be discontinued due to increasing tooth soreness. CONCLUSIONS: Atraumatic tooth extraction seems to be a safe method to prevent bone exposure, even in cases with BRONJ. The time required of our patients for exfoliation exceeded the time mentioned in literature considerably. This proved to be a major limitation. Our cases showed that patients with good compliance, no sore teeth, or painful BRONJ lesions, benefited from atraumatic tooth extraction. One of the method's major advantages might be the possibility to continue chemotherapy and bisphosphonate therapy throughout the treatment.
