Comparison of Roughness, Wettability, and SEM Features between Sandblasted Acid-Etched and Oxidized Titanium Dental Implants.

The surface of dental implants has undergone multiple modifications across the timeline to enhance osseointegration, thereby enhancing the success of dental implants. This study compared the surface roughness, wettability and topography of sandblasted acid-etched, and oxidized titanium dental implants. Three commercially available implants-namely, SLA, SLActive, and TiUnite-were evaluated for surface roughness in terms of Ra, Rq, and Rz; wettability in terms of contact angle (CA); and topography using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Roughness and wettability values were compared between the three surfaces by ANOVA and pairwise comparison by Tukey's HSD post hoc testing using SPSS Software. A p value of < 0.01 was considered to be statistically significant. The TiUnite surface exhibited the highest roughness values (Ra = 1.91 ± 0.006 µm, Rq = 2.99 ± 0.005 µm, Rz = 8.37 ± 0.003 µm) followed by the SLA and SLActive surfaces. The contact angles of the SLA, SLActive, and TiUnite dental implants were 98.44 ± 0.52°, 9 ± 0.03°, and 94.39 ± 0.08°, respectively. These data demonstrated statistically significant differences between the three surfaces (p < 0.01). There were no distinct differences in SEM features between the SLA and SLActive surfaces. However, the TiUnite surface exhibited a distinctly porous morphology. Oxidized dental implants differ from sandblasted acid-etched implants in terms of roughness, wettability, and surface topography.

Hybrid Navigation Technique for Improved Precision in Implantology.

The hybrid navigation technique involves the merging of the Dynamic navigation (DN) system (Navident, Claronav, Canada) and static navigation technique (3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark). Combining the advantages of both techniques, devising a protocol of hybrid navigation will be advantageous to eliminate the difficulties faced by operators in using either methods separately. Three patients requiring dental implants were included in this study. This requires the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data) and intra-oral scan (Standard Tessellation Language (STL) format) data for the accurate planning of the implant positions in both the static and dynamic approaches. The steps carried out were repeated for each of the patients, the accuracy of the implant placement was verified postoperatively by merging the CBCT data pre and post through the Evalunav software (NaviDent, Claronav). The accuracy of the implants placed were assessed based on the mesio-distal, bucco-lingual, apical deviations in distance and in angulation. The semi-robotic DN and static guide combination as a hybrid technique is an interesting method to improve the accuracy of flapless implant surgeries and can be used in cases where the anatomical landmarks are determinant factors for the implant placement.

Mandibular molar teeth deviations for fabrication of implant-specific strip crowns among Indians.

An understanding of tooth morphology provides better insight and is an important foundation for providing successful endodontic and restorative treatment. It also provides a deeper evaluation and baseline for future prosthetic rehabilitation. The study aimed to measure and characterizes mandibular molars using a normal divider and measurement scale using mandibular casts. Over 300 mandibular first molars were measured in dimensions including the buccolingual width, mesiodistal width, mesiobuccal height, mid-buccal height, and distobuccal height; same were repeated with intra-oral scanners digitally. The mean and standard deviation of the measurements and the correlation to age and gender were calculated using SPSS software to fabricate implant-specific strip crowns.