Novel AI-based automated virtual implant placement: Artificial versus human intelligence.

OBJECTIVES: To assess quality, clinical acceptance, time-efficiency, and consistency of a novel artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tool for automated presurgical implant planning for single tooth replacement, compared to a human intelligence (HI)-based approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To validate a novel AI-driven implant placement tool, a dataset of 10 time-matching cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and intra-oral scans (IOS) previously acquired for single mandibular molar/premolar implant placement was included. An AI pre-trained model for implant planning was compared to human expert-based planning, followed by the export, evaluation and comparison of two generic implants-AI-generated and human-generated-for each case. The quality of both approaches was assessed by 12 calibrated dentists through blinded observations using a visual analogue scale (VAS), while clinical acceptance was evaluated through an AI versus HI battle (Turing test). Subsequently, time efficiency and consistency were evaluated and compared between both planning methods. RESULTS: Overall, 360 observations were gathered, with 240 dedicated to VAS, of which 95 % (AI) and 96 % (HI) required no major, clinically relevant corrections. In the AI versus HI Turing test (120 observations), 4 cases had matching judgments for AI and HI, with AI favoured in 3 and HI in 3. Additionally, AI completed planning more than twice as fast as HI, taking only 198 ± 33 s compared to 435 ± 92 s (p < 0.05). Furthermore, AI demonstrated higher consistency with zero-degree median surface deviation (MSD) compared to HI (MSD=0.3 ± 0.17 mm). CONCLUSION: AI demonstrated expert-quality and clinically acceptable single-implant planning, proving to be more time-efficient and consistent than the HI-based approach. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Presurgical implant planning often requires multidisciplinary collaboration between highly experienced specialists, which can be complex, cumbersome and time-consuming. However, AI-driven implant planning has the potential to allow clinically acceptable planning, significantly more time-efficient and consistent than the human expert.

Evaluation of the Impact of Digital Dentistry on the Precision of Implant Placement and Prosthesis Fabrication: An In-Vitro Study.

BACKGROUND: Digital dentistry has revolutionized the field of implant dentistry, offering enhanced accuracy and precision in implant placement and prosthesis fabrication. This study aims to evaluate the effect of digital dentistry on the accuracy of implant placement and prosthesis fit through a comprehensive in-vitro assessment. METHODS: In this in-vitro study, a Digital Dentistry Group and a Conventional Group were compared regarding implant placement accuracy and prosthesis fit. Measurements of coronal deviation, apical deviation, global deviation, angulation deviation, and depth deviation were obtained for implant placement accuracy, while marginal fit and internal fit were assessed for prosthesis fit. Statistical analysis was performed to determine significant differences between the two groups. RESULTS: The Digital Dentistry Group demonstrated significantly lower values of coronal deviation, apical deviation, global deviation, angulation deviation, and depth deviation compared to the Conventional Group (p < 0.001). Similarly, the Digital Dentistry Group exhibited superior marginal fit and internal fit (p < 0.001) when compared to the Conventional Group. CONCLUSION: This in-vitro study provides evidence supporting the superior accuracy of implant placement and improved prosthesis fit achieved through digital dentistry techniques. The use of intraoral scanners, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems, and three-dimensional (3D) imaging enables precise digital impressions, virtual planning, and custom-made prostheses with superior fit and esthetics. Incorporating digital dentistry into clinical practice can enhance treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction in implant dentistry.

The use of patient-related outcomes (PRO) and experience (PRE) in assessing the periodontal and implant patient.

The purpose of this review was to summarize the evidence with regard to behavioral and psychosocial assessment of the periodontitis patient, the candidate for implant therapy, and the peri-implantitis patient. Periodontitis has an adverse effect on quality of life and its treatment can lead to significant improvements experienced by the patient. The latter is true for rehabilitation with dental implants, although patients harbor diverse expectations and perceptions of implant therapy, which can often interfere with satisfaction and/or influence long-term success. A thorough behavioral assessment of the candidate for implant therapy is essential, which should include, perceptions, expectations, as well as risk for behavioral disorders. Remedial action is essential to correct misperceptions and any identified risks. Finally, patients have limited awareness of limited ability to identify signs of peri-implantitis. The diagnosis of peri-implantitis can be a cause of significant distress, resentment, and loss of trust to the treatment and the caregivers. Despite documented value in clinical research, currently available instruments assessing patient-reported outcomes have little application in day-to-day clinical practice. Face-to-face patient to doctor open-ended communication remains the most effective way to comprehensively establish the long-term "therapeutic alliance" essential for the long journey for the periodontitis patient.

Accuracy analysis of robotic-assisted immediate implant placement: A retrospective case series.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of a robotic computer-assisted implant surgery (r-CAIS) for immediate implant placement. METHODS: Patients requiring immediate implant placement in the maxillary anterior region were enrolled for r-CAIS. Before surgery, the patients underwent a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan with a positioning marker. Virtual implant placement position and drilling sequences were planned. Following spatial registration and calibration, the implants were placed with the robotic system under supervision. A postoperative CBCT was taken to control the actual implant positions. The DICOM data of the virtually planned and the actually placed implant were superimposed and registered through the accuracy verification software of the robotic system. The accuracy was calculated automatically. The deviation at the mesial-distal, labial-palatal, and apico-coronal directions were recorded. RESULTS: Fifteen patients with 20 implants were included. No adverse surgical events or postoperative complications were reported. The global platform, apex, and angular deviation were 0.75 ± 0.20 mm (95 % CI: 0.65 to 0.84 mm), 0.70 ± 0.27 mm (95 % CI: 0.57 to 0.82 mm), and 1.17 ± 0.73° (95 % CI: 0.83 to 1.51°), respectively. Moreover, the vertical platform and apex deviation were 0.50 ± 0.31 mm, (95 % CI: 0.35 to 0.64 mm) and 0.48 ± 0.32 mm, (95 % CI: 0.33 to 0.63 mm), respectively. All the placed implant positions were further labial and apical than the planned ones, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: High accuracy of immediate implant placement was achieved with the robotic system. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Our study provided evidence to support the potential of the robotic system in implant placement, even in challenging scenarios.

Effectiveness of a flipped classroom for undergraduate in implant dentistry hands-on course.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the learning in the implant dentistry hands-on course to that of the flipped classroom (FC) and the traditional lecture cohorts (control). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study,80 students were enrolled for the first time in an implant dentistry program. Subsequently, they were divided into two groups. The first, the FC group, which had free access to a video with a PowerPoint presentation on the Chaoxing-WHU-MOOC platform about the implant placement on first molar sites before class. The second, the control group, which attended a didactic lecture describing implant practice on the first molar site via a bidirectional multimedia interactive teaching demonstration and then operated on a simulation model. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and the deviation gauge were utilized to analyze the accuracy of the implant placement in the students' models. An online satisfaction questionnaire was distributed to both groups one week after the class. RESULTS: The linear deviation of the CBCT examination did not show any statistical difference between the two groups concerning cervical, apex, and angular. A significant buccal deviation was observed in the control group compared with the FC group (mean: 0.7436 mm vs. 0.2875 mm, p = 0.0035), according to the restoration-level deviation gauge. A total of 74.36% of students in the FC group placed implant within 0.5 mm buccal-to-lingual deviations, but only 41.03% of students in the control group reached within 0.5 mm buccal-to-lingual deviation ranges. Additionally, 91.67% of the students in the FC group and 97.5% of the students in the control group were satisfied with the practical implant class. CONCLUSION: FC was more effective than a didactic lecture for implant dentistry practical skill acquisition.

25 years of Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research (CIDRR): A modern bibliometric and Altmetrics network analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Since its establishment in 1999, the journal of Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research (CIDRR) has consistently disseminated notable clinical and translational research within the domain of oral implantology. As the journal approaches its milestone 25th anniversary, this study endeavors to systematically delineate the publication trends, level of evidence, and bibliometric indices characterizing the initial quarter-century of CIDRR's scholarly activity. Notably, the investigation adopts a contemporary methodology by incorporating Altmetric analysis, thereby enriching the evaluation with an assessment of the broader societal and online impact of the published research. METHODS: A comprehensive search was performed in SCOPUS and PubMed to access the bibliographic data of all articles published in the journal from 1999 to 2024. Additionally, Altmetric database was used to obtain social media attention scores (AAS). Journal's overall performance via impact factor and quartile range was assessed. Most cited papers were identified and the most prolific authors, institutions and countries and the collaboration networks among those were assessed. The level of evidence of all articles was determined based on Oxford level of evidence scale. All articles were categorized based on their major topic in the field of implant dentistry. RESULTS: Throughout its first 25 years of activity, CIDRR published 1912 articles with an annual growth rate of 2.67% and consistently being ranked at Q1 quartile in "Dentistry (miscellaneous)" and "Oral Surgery" journal categories. When clinical studies are considered, level I and II evidence constituted 22.82% and 11.82% of all articles, respectively. Sweden, the USA, and Italy as well as Göteborgs Universitet, Sahlgrenska Akademin. and Malmö Högskola were the most prolific countries and institutions respectively. "Implant system/design/characteristics," "Bone Augmentation," and "Implant Prosthesis" were the top most investigated topics. CONCLUSIONS: The examination of the journal's initial 25 years highlighted that CIDRR has surpassed similar dental research journals in publishing a greater number of high-level evidence articles. It also showcased diverse country- and author-collaboration networks. However, the journal's social media presence is still evolving. This article, presenting a comprehensive overview of the journal's scientometric and bibliographic activities, serves as a valuable reference for researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders, offering insights into both traditional and contemporary perspectives.

Trephination-based autonomous robotic surgery for dental implant placement: A proof of concept.

OBJECTIVES: To present a novel drilling protocol of trephine osteotomy technique for autologous bone grafting with simultaneous implant placement using an autonomous robotic system. METHODS: The novel protocol consists of 1) preoperative procedures: marker fabrication and fixation, data acquisition, and preoperative planning; 2) intraoperative procedures: registration and calibration, and osteotomy and implant placement performed by an autonomous dental implant robot; 3) postoperative procedures: CBCT acquisition and accuracy assessment. RESULT: The protocol was an effective method for implant osteotomy, with no reported intraoperative complications. The implant surgery was successfully completed, and autogenous bone was obtained. Meanwhile, the accuracy of implant placement was clinically acceptable, with minor deviations. CONCLUSIONS: Trephination-based robotic surgery can be successfully implemented in implant osteotomy, which might replace freehand implant surgery and conventional drilling protocol. However, further clinical studies are necessary. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The main finding of this case is a potential alternative for preserving autogenous bone during implant surgery.

Patterns of antibiotic prescription in implant dentistry and antibiotic resistance awareness among European dentists: A questionnaire-based study.

OBJECTIVES: Antimicrobial resistance is an alarming global public health concern, threatening the effective treatment of common infections. This phenomenon is driven by the improper prescription of antibiotics. This study aimed to elucidate the patterns of antibiotic prescription in implant dentistry among European dentists and their awareness of antibiotic resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous online validated questionnaire was distributed via e-mail to 6431 recipients through the European Association for Osseointegration. It comprised of 17 structured questions investigating demographic variables, working environment, clinical experience, attitude towards antibiotic prescription in particular in relation to implant dentistry and COVID-19 pandemic, and awareness of antibiotic resistance. Data were collected from April to May 2023. RESULTS: 281 dentists from 33 European countries completed the survey. Almost 80% affirmed to routinely prescribe antibiotics as prophylaxis as well as after dental implant placement, especially in medically compromised patients or in cases of bone grafting. Amoxicillin, alone (61%) or in combination with clavulanic acid (56%), was the most common antibiotic of choice. Awareness of penicillin resistance among respondents was high. For peri-implantitis treatment, more than half reported the use of systemic antibiotics. The large majority (95%) did not prescribe more antibiotics since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic. Less than 40% declared to follow national guidelines for antibiotic prescription. CONCLUSION: This survey revealed a high prescription rate of antibiotics in implant dentistry, despite the awareness about antibiotic resistance among the respondents. The development and adherence to European guidelines has been identified as a potential strategy for improving antimicrobial stewardship.

Impact of Scanbody Geometry and CAD Software on Determining 3D Implant Position.

The implementation of CAD software in the digital production of implant prosthetics stands as a pivotal aspect of clinical dentistry, necessitating high precision in the alignment of implant scanbodies. This study investigates the influence of scanbody geometry and the method of superimposing in CAD software when determining 3D implant position. A standardized titanium model with three bone-level implants was digitized to create reference STL files, and 10 intraoral scans were performed on Medentika and NT-Trading scanbodies. To determine implant position, the generated STL files were imported into the Exocad CAD software and superimposed-automatically and manually-with the scanbody geometries stored within the software's shape library. Position accuracy was determined by a comparison of the 3D-defined scanbody points from the STL matching files with those from the reference STL files. The R statistical software was used for the evaluation of the data. In addition, mixed linear models and a significance level of 0.05 were applied to calculate the p-values. The manual overlay method was significantly more accurate than the automatic overlays for both scanbody types. The Medentika scanbodies showed slightly superior precision compared to the NT-Trading scanbodies. Both scanbody geometry and the type of alignment in the CAD software significantly affect digital workflow accuracy. Manual verification and adjustment of the automatic alignment process are essential for precise implant positioning.

Indications for implant-supported rehabilitation of the posterior atrophic maxilla: A multidisciplinary consensus among experts in the field utilising the modified Delphi method.

PURPOSE: To establish consensus-driven guidelines that could support the clinical decision-making process for implant-supported rehabilitation of the posterior atrophic maxilla and ultimately improve long-term treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 33 participants were enrolled (18 active members of the Italian Academy of Osseointegration and 15 international experts). Based on the available evidence, the development group discussed and proposed an initial list of 20 statements, which were later evalu-ated by all participants. After the forms were completed, the responses were sent for blinded ana-lysis. In most cases, when a consensus was not reached, the statements were rephrased and sent to the participants for another round of evaluation. Three rounds were planned. RESULTS: After the first round of voting, participants came close to reaching a consensus on six statements, but no consensus was achieved for the other fourteen. Following this, nineteen statements were rephrased and sent to participants again for the second round of voting, after which a consensus was reached for six statements and almost reached for three statements, but no consensus was achieved for the other ten. All 13 statements upon which no consensus was reached were rephrased and included in the third round. After this round, a consensus was achieved for an additional nine statements and almost achieved for three statements, but no consensus was reached for the remaining statement. CONCLUSION: This Delphi consensus highlights the importance of accurate preoperative planning, taking into consideration the maxillomandibular relationship to meet the functional and aesthetic requirements of the final restoration. Emphasis is placed on the role played by the sinus bony walls and floor in providing essential elements for bone formation, and on evaluation of bucco-palatal sinus width for choosing between lateral and transcrestal sinus floor elevation. Tilted and trans-sinus implants are considered viable options, whereas caution is advised when placing pterygoid implants. Zygomatic implants are seen as a potential option in specific cases, such as for completely edentulous elderly or oncological patients, for whom conventional alternatives are unsuitable.

Effect of a Novel 'Scan Body' on the In Vitro Scanning Accuracy of Full-Arch Implant Impressions.

OBJECTIVE: This in vitro study aimed to determine whether a newly designed arcuate scan body can improve intraoral scanning accuracy for implant rehabilitation of edentulous jaws. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A master model containing 4 implant abutment replicas was fabricated and digitized with different scan bodies using an intraoral scanner. Four types of scan bodies were evaluated: original scan bodies (group OS), computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) scan bodies without extension (group CS), CAD/CAM scan bodies with straight extension (group CSS), and CAD/CAM scan bodies with arcuate extension (group CSA). Conventional splinted open-tray impressions (group CI) were used as controls. The master model and the poured casts were digitized using a laboratory scanner. Impressions were repeated 10 times each in 5 groups. Scans in standard tessellation language format were exported to reverse engineering software and root mean square (RMS) values were used for trueness and precision assessments. In each group, 45 RMS values were acquired for precision evaluation and 10 RMS values were obtained for trueness assessment. Statistical evaluation was performed with the Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn-Bonferroni test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The median trueness values were 41.40, 55.95, 39.80, 39.75, and 22.30 µm for group OS, CS, CSS, CSA, and CI, respectively. CI showed better trueness than OS (P = .020), CS (P < .001), and CSS (P = .035). The median precisions for group OS, CS, CSS, CSA, and CI were 47.40, 51.50, 43.90, 25.20, and 24.60 µm. respectively. The precision of CSA and CI were higher than OS (P < .001), CS (P < .001), and CSS (P < .001). Between CI and CSA, there was no significant difference (P = 1.000). CONCLUSIONS: For full-arch implant rehabilitation, the scan body with arcuate extension could improve the intraoral scanning precision and showed similar 3-dimensional discrepancy compared to conventional splinted open-tray impressions.

Artificial intelligence serving pre-surgical digital implant planning: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a scoping review focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) applications in presurgical dental implant planning. Additionally, to assess the automation degree of clinically available pre-surgical implant planning software. DATA AND SOURCES: A systematic electronic literature search was performed in five databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus), along with exploring gray literature web-based resources until November 2023. English-language studies on AI-driven tools for digital implant planning were included based on an independent evaluation by two reviewers. An assessment of automation steps in dental implant planning software available on the market up to November 2023 was also performed. STUDY SELECTION AND RESULTS: From an initial 1,732 studies, 47 met eligibility criteria. Within this subset, 39 studies focused on AI networks for anatomical landmark-based segmentation, creating virtual patients. Eight studies were dedicated to AI networks for virtual implant placement. Additionally, a total of 12 commonly available implant planning software applications were identified and assessed for their level of automation in pre-surgical digital implant workflows. Notably, only six of these featured at least one fully automated step in the planning software, with none possessing a fully automated implant planning protocol. CONCLUSIONS: AI plays a crucial role in achieving accurate, time-efficient, and consistent segmentation of anatomical landmarks, serving the process of virtual patient creation. Additionally, currently available systems for virtual implant placement demonstrate different degrees of automation. It is important to highlight that, as of now, full automation of this process has not been documented nor scientifically validated. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Scientific and clinical validation of AI applications for presurgical dental implant planning is currently scarce. The present review allows the clinician to identify AI-based automation in presurgical dental implant planning and assess the potential underlying scientific validation.

Antibiotic-Prescribing Habits in Dentistry: A Questionnaire-Based Study.

The problem of antibiotic resistance is becoming increasingly serious worldwide due to uncontrolled prescription. Dentists are among the groups that prescribe the most antibiotics, often to delay urgent treatment. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the prescribing protocols adopted by dentists for prophylaxis and antibiotic therapy in major clinical surgical indications. METHODS: A ten-question survey was administered to a group of Italian dentists. The participants were asked about their preferences for antibiotic administration for the prevention of infective endocarditis, the administration of antibiotics to patients allergic to penicillin, the insertion of implants, and the extraction of third molars. The retrieved data were screened and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 298 surveys were filled out. The most-prescribed antibiotic was amoxicillin or amoxicillin with clavulanic acid or macrolides for allergic patients. The administration of two grams of amoxicillin one hour before surgery was the most widely used prescriptive protocol for prophylaxis. International guidelines on antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis were only partially followed. The most heterogeneous results emerged for prophylaxis associated with dental implants or provided prior to surgical third-molar extraction. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows widespread antibiotic prescriptive heterogeneity among the sample of dentists analyzed, especially in conditions where international guidelines are lacking. An evidence-based consensus on prescriptive modalities in dentistry would be desirable in the near future.

Bone Formation and Maintenance in Oral Surgery: The Decisive Role of the Immune System-A Narrative Review of Mechanisms and Solutions.

Based on the evidence of a significant communication and connection pathway between the bone and immune systems, a new science has emerged: osteoimmunology. Indeed, the immune system has a considerable impact on bone health and diseases, as well as on bone formation during grafts and its stability over time. Chronic inflammation induces the excessive production of oxidants. An imbalance between the levels of oxidants and antioxidants is called oxidative stress. This physio-pathological state causes both molecular and cellular damage, which leads to DNA alterations, genetic mutations and cell apoptosis, and thus, impaired immunity followed by delayed or compromised wound healing. Oxidative stress levels experienced by the body affect bone regeneration and maintenance around teeth and dental implants. As the immune system and bone remodeling are interconnected, bone loss is a consequence of immune dysregulation. Therefore, oral tissue deficiencies such as periodontitis and peri-implantitis should be regarded as immune diseases. Bone management strategies should include both biological and surgical solutions. These protocols tend to improve immunity through antioxidant production to enhance bone formation and prevent bone loss. This narrative review aims to highlight the relationship between inflammation, oxidation, immunity and bone health in the oral cavity. It intends to help clinicians to detect high-risk situations in oral surgery and to propose biological and clinical solutions that will enhance patients' immune responses and surgical treatment outcomes.

Innate immune regulation in dental implant osseointegration.

PURPOSE: Dental implant osseointegration comprises two types of bone formation-contact and distance osteogenesis-which result in bone formation originating from the implant surface or bone edges, respectively. The physicochemical properties of the implant surface regulate initial contact osteogenesis by directly tuning the osteoprogenitor cells in the peri-implant environment. However, whether these implant surface properties can regulate osteoprogenitor cells distant from the implant remains unclear. Innate immune cells, including neutrophils and macrophages, govern bone metabolism, suggesting their involvement in osseointegration and distance osteogenesis. This narrative review discusses the role of innate immunity in osseointegration and the effects of implant surface properties on distant osteogenesis, focusing on innate immune regulation. STUDY SELECTION: The role of innate immunity in bone formation and the effects of implant surface properties on innate immune function were reviewed based on clinical, animal, and in vitro studies. RESULTS: Neutrophils and macrophages are responsible for bone formation during osseointegration, via inflammatory mediators. The microroughness and hydrophilic status of titanium implants have the potential to alleviate this inflammatory response of neutrophils, and induce an anti-inflammatory response in macrophages, to tune both contact and distance osteogenesis through the activation of osteoblasts. Thus, the surface micro-roughness and hydrophilicity of implants can regulate the function of distant osteoprogenitor cells through innate immune cells. CONCLUSIONS: Surface modification of implants aimed at regulating innate immunity may be useful in promoting further osteogenesis and overcoming the limitations encountered in severe situations, such as early loading protocol application.

Influence of sterilization on the retention forces of lithium disilicate and polymer-infiltrated ceramic-network crowns bonded to titanium base abutments: An in-vitro study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sterilization on the retention forces of lithium disilicate (LD) and polymer-infiltrated ceramic network (PICN) crowns bonded to titanium base (Ti-base) abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty LD and 40 PICN crowns were milled and then bonded to 80 Ti-bases with two resin composite cements: Multilink Hybrid Abutment (mh) and Panavia V5 (pv) for a total of 8 groups (n = 10). Half of the specimens (test) underwent an autoclaving protocol (pressure 1.1 bar, 121°C, 20.5 min) and the other half not (control). Restorations were screw-retained to implants, and retention forces (N) were measured with a pull-off testing machine. The surfaces of the Ti-bases and the crowns were inspected for the analysis of the integrity of the marginal bonding interface and failure mode. Student's t-test, chi-square test, and univariate linear regression model were performed to analyze the data (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The mean pull-off retention forces ranged from 487.7 ± 73.4 N to 742.2 ± 150.3 N. Sterilized groups showed statistically significant overall higher maximum retention forces (p < .05), except for one combination (LD + mh). Sterilization led to an increased presence of marginal gaps and deformities compared to no-sterilization (p < .001), while no statistically significant relationship was found between failure mode and sterilization (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Sterilization may have a beneficial effect on the retention forces of LD and PICN crowns bonded to titanium base abutments, although it may negatively influence the integrity of the marginal bonding interface.

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.

Virtual implant scan body switch by using computer-aided design programs avoiding the need of obtaining a new intraoral implant digital scan: A novel protocol.

OBJECTIVE: The present manuscript describes a technique to virtually switch an implant scan body eliminating the need of obtaining a new intraoral implant digital scan. CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Implant scan bodies assist on transferring the 3-dimensional position of the implants into the virtual definitive implant cast. However, if a different implant part is desired during the designing procedures of the implant restoration such as selecting a different implant abutment of varying height, angulation, or manufacturer, a new intraoral implant digital scan with the specific implant scan body is required. CONCLUSIONS: This novel protocol aims to reduce possible complications that require capturing a new intraoral implant digital scan, facilitate prostheses design modifications after the obtention of the definitive intraoral implant digital scan, and to ease the manufacturing procedures. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The novel technique may provide a solution for virtually switch implant scan bodies for fabricating implant-supported single crowns or short-span prostheses. Additional studies are needed before its clinical implementation.

Dental rehabilitation in irradiated oral cancer patients using patient-specific dental implants - Clinical outcome and oral health-related quality of life.

INTRODUCTION: Dental rehabilitation in oral cancer patients is essential for good oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Patient-specific dental implants are suitable for treating tumor-related bony defects, resulting in satisfactory OHRQoL. However, knowledge concerning the clinical outcome and OHRQoL following tumor irradiation is lacking. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out to evaluate clinical outcomes and OHRQoL in eight patients who received patient-specific dental implants and implant-supported dentures after surgical treatment for oral cancer with additional irradiation. OHRQoL assessment was performed using the German long version of the oral health impact profile (OHIP) questionnaire (OHIP-G53). RESULTS: Clinical examination revealed successful dental rehabilitation in all the patients with only minor impairments. Restricted stability and function of implants were not observed. OHIP sum-scores of all the patients indicated acceptable OHRQoL, but this varied between patients treated in the upper or lower jaw. Single-item sum-scores concerning the adverse events "difficulty in chewing," "food catching," "sore jaw," "sore spots," and "unclear speech" were detected to be the worst, and pain-related OHIP dimensions demonstrated the highest scores (followed by functional limitation, physical disability, and psychosocial impact) with a worse OHRQoL following lower jaw treatment. Other dimension sum-scores were overall lower and nearly equally distributed in patients. CONCLUSIONS: Dental rehabilitation of irradiated oral cancer patients using patient-specific dental implants may be suitable, leading to acceptable OHRQoL. However, implant insertion in the upper jaw seems to be more favorable. Further studies on patient-specific dental implants are warranted to validate the current results.

Accuracy of digital guided implant surgery: expert consensus on nonsurgical factors and their treatments / 口腔疾病防治

@#The standardized workflow of computer-aided static guided implant surgery includes preoperative examination, data acquisition, guide design, guide fabrication and surgery. Errors may occur at each step, leading to irreversible cumulative effects and thus impacting the accuracy of implant placement. However, clinicians tend to focus on factors causing errors in surgical operations, ignoring the possibility of irreversible errors in nonstandard guided surgery. Based on the clinical practice of domestic experts and research progress at home and abroad, this paper summarizes the sources of errors in guided implant surgery from the perspectives of preoperative inspection, data collection, guide designing and manufacturing and describes strategies to resolve errors so as to gain expert consensus. Consensus recommendation: 1. Preoperative considerations: the appropriate implant guide type should be selected according to the patient's oral condition before surgery, and a retaining screw-assisted support guide should be selected if necessary. 2. Data acquisition should be standardized as much as possible, including beam CT and extraoral scanning. CBCT performed with the patient’s head fixed and with a small field of view is recommended. For patients with metal prostheses inside the mouth, a registration marker guide should be used, and the ambient temperature and light of the external oral scanner should be reasonably controlled. 3. Optimization of computer-aided design: it is recommended to select a handle-guided planting system and a closed metal sleeve and to register images by overlapping markers. Properly designing the retaining screws, extending the support structure of the guide plate and increasing the length of the guide section are methods to feasibly reduce the incidence of surgical errors. 4. Improving computer-aided production: it is also crucial to set the best printing parameters according to different printing technologies and to choose the most appropriate postprocessing procedures.