Fixed Full Arches Supported by Tapered Implants with Knife-Edge Thread Design and Nanostructured, Calcium-Incorporated Surface: A Short-Term Prospective Clinical Study.

Purpose. To evaluate implant survival, peri-implant bone loss, and complications affecting fixed full-arch (FFA) restorations supported by implants with a knife-edge thread design and nanostructured, calcium-incorporated surface. Methods. Between January 2013 and December 2015, all patients referred for implant-supported FFA restorations were considered for enrollment in this study. All patients received implants with a knife-edge thread design and nanostructured calcium-incorporated surface (Anyridge®, Megagen, South Korea) were restored with FFA restorations and enrolled in a recall program. The final outcomes were implant survival, peri-implant bone loss, biologic/prosthetic complications, and "complication-free" survival of restorations. Results. Twenty-four patients were selected. Overall, 215 implants were inserted (130 maxilla, 85 mandible), 144 in extraction sockets and 71 in healed ridges. Thirty-six FFAs were delivered (21 maxilla, 15 mandible): 27 were immediately loaded and 9 were conventionally loaded. The follow-up ranged from 1 to 3 years. Two fixtures failed, yielding an implant survival rate of 95.9% (patient-based). A few complications were registered, for a "complication-free" survival of restorations of 88.9%. Conclusions. FFA restorations supported by implants with a knife-edge thread design and nanostructured, calcium-incorporated surface are successful in the short term, with high survival and low complication rates; long-term studies are needed to confirm these outcomes.

An analysis of etiological factors for traumatic mandibular osteomyelitis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the factors that were associated with the development of osteomyelitis during the treatment of mandibular fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data of 3188 patients with mandibular fractures treated during 2002-2009 were analyzed. Traumatic osteomyelitis of the mandible was diagnosed in 207 patients. The background factors of complications were studied and compared with the control group (100 patients) not having complications after treatment of mandibular fractures. The data of clinical, roentgenologic, microbiological, and immunological investigations were analyzed. A logistic regression model was developed to identify the factors for osteomyelitis development. RESULTS: The treatment in 6.5% of patients was complicated with osteomyelitis; 88.5% of these patients were men, and more than 80% of patients were younger than 50 years. In 86.8% of cases, Staphylococcus species were isolated, with Staphylococcus aureus accounting for 69.1% of cases. The following factors were found to be associated with osteomyelitis development: immunity dysfunction, caries-affected teeth at the fracture line, mobile fractured bones, bone fixation after more than 7 days following trauma, healthy teeth at the fracture line, insufficient bone reposition, and bone fixation after 3-7 days following trauma. CONCLUSION: Comparative analysis of factors influencing the treatment results revealed a great importance of immunological and dental status and microflora at the affected site. Insufficient or late reposition and fixation of fractured bone fragments play a significant role in the healing process.