International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry, 04/2016

This study evaluated volume stability after alveolar ridge contouring with free connective tissue grafts at implant placement in single-tooth gaps. A total of 52 single-tooth gaps with labial volume deficiencies in the maxilla (incisors, canines, and premolars) were consecutively treated with implants and concomitant free palatal connective tissue grafts in 46 patients between 2006 and 2009. Implants had to be covered with at least 2 mm peri-implant local bone after insertion. At implant placement, a free connective tissue graft from the palate was fixed inside a labial split-thickness flap to form an existing concave buccal alveolar ridge contour due to tissue volume deficiency into a convex shape. Standardized volumetric measurements of the labial alveolar contour using a template were evaluated before connective tissue grafting and at 2 weeks, 1 year, and 5 years after implantprosthetic incorporation. Tissue volume had increased significantly (P < .05) in all six reference points representing the outer alveolar soft tissue contour of the implant before connective tissue grafting to baseline (2 weeks after implant-prosthetic incorporation). Statistically, 50% of the reference points (P > .05) kept their volume from baseline to 1 year after prosthetic incorporation and from baseline to 5 years after prosthetic incorporation, respectively, whereas reference points located within the area of the implant sulcus showed a significant (P < .05) decrease in volume. Clinically, 5 years after prosthetic incorporation the originally concave buccal alveolar contour was still convex in all implants, leading to a continuous favorable anatomical shape and improved esthetic situation. Intraoral radiographs confirmed osseointegration and stable peri-implant parameters with a survival rate of 100% after a follow-up of approximately 5 years. Implant placement with concomitant free connective tissue grafting appears to be an appropriate long-term means to contour preexisting buccal alveolar volume deficiencies in single implants.

The purpose of this study was to compare two minimally invasive surgical techniques (MISTs) for the treatment of periodontal defects: (1) guided tissue regeneration (GTR) using resorbable minimembrane and particulate xenograft (DBBM); and (2) inductive periodontal regeneration (IPR) using enamel matrix derivatives and DBBM. A sample of 20 infrabony periodontal defects in 20 patients were randomly assigned to either the GTR or the IPR group. A followup was performed at 12 months postoperative. Significant improvement in clinical parameters was observed in both groups, although no intergroup differences were found. MIST with GTR or IPR demonstrated very good outcomes 1 year after surgery, with no differences between treatment groups.

This case report provided a unique opportunity to investigate the extent of microbiota infiltration on the oxidized implant surface that has been compromised by peri-implantitis. Scanning electron microscopic analysis confirmed the etiologic role of the bacteria on the loss of supporting structure and the difficulty in complete removal of bacterial infiltration on the implant surface. This case report emphasizes the need to perform definitive surface decontamination on failing dental implants prior to a regeneration procedure.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early inflammatory response following osseous resective surgery (ORS) with Piezosurgery compared to commonly used diamond burs. A sample was selected of 24 bilateral posterior sextants requiring ORS in 12 chronic periodontitis patients in a split-mouth design. In 12 sextants, bone recontouring was performed using a piezoelectric device. In the contralateral sextants, rotary instruments were used. Sextants treated with Piezosurgery obtained similar 12-month clinical results but lower postsurgical gene expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), a well-known proinflammatory cytokine, and lower patient morbidity compared with sextants treated with rotary instruments. In spite of the longer surgical time, the use of Piezosurgery for ORS seems to promote more favorable wound healing compared with rotary instruments, as the lower pain and the low levels of IL-1β mRNA at the surgical sites suggest a milder underlying inflammatory response.

The effectiveness of the osteotome technique for sinus augmentation was evaluated using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) analysis. Clinical results of two-stage sinus floor elevation using the osteotome technique performed on 15 patients at the Nakajima Dental Clinic between 2006 and 2013 were evaluated retrospectively. CBCT imaging revealed that the maxillary sinus floor was elevated by an average of 7.28 mm (SD 1.62) immediately following surgery, with a mean bone height of 9.55 mm (SD 1.43). In all cases, the osteotome technique provided sufficient bone height for implant placement. No pre- or postoperative complications (eg, mucosal perforation) were reported. The minimal surgical stress and morbidity further underscore the practicality of this approach for two-stage maxillary sinus floor augmentation.

The objective of this study was to evaluate an Er:YAG laser (ErL) application for periodontal regenerative surgery in angular bone defects at nine sites in six patients. Debridement was thoroughly performed using a combination of curettage with a Gracey-type curette and ErL irradiation at a panel setting of 70 mJ/pulse and 20 Hz with sterile saline spray. After applying an enamel matrix derivative and autogenous bone grafting, ErL was used to form a blood clot coagulation on the grafted bone surface at 50 mJ/pulse and 20 Hz without water spray for approximately 30 seconds. Twelve months after surgery the mean probing depth had improved from 6.2 mm to 2.0 mm, the mean clinical attachment level had reduced from 7.5 mm to 3.4 mm, and bleeding on probing had improved from (+) to (−). Mean intrabony defect depth decreased from 6.0 mm before surgery to 1.0 mm 12 months after surgery. A novel procedure for periodontal regenerative surgery applying ErL irradiation for thorough decontamination during debridement as well as blood coagulation following autogenous bone grafting seems to have achieved favorable and stable healing of periodontal pockets with significant clinical improvement and desirable regeneration of angular bone defects, including one-wall defects.

The aim of this study was to introduce an intraoral bone block harvesting technique-the palatal bone block graft (PBBG)-as an alternative harvest site for autogenous bone blocks. The PBBG technique was used to onlay graft esthetic zone defects simultaneous to implant placement in five patients. Measurable objectives were used to evaluate outcomes, and treatment was reassessed at up to 6 years. Defects of the maxilla were successfully grafted with PBBG in all five cases, and tissues remained stable at 1- and 6-year follow-ups. Harvesting an autogenous bone block from the palate is an advantageous, predictable, and reproducible method for augmenting buccofacial defects at implant placement, and may be considered as an alternative to conventional intraoral bone block donor sites when treating the maxilla.

This study investigated whether enamel matrix derivative (EMD) contributes to root coverage of gingival recessions performed with acellular dermal matrix graft (ADMG) in smokers during a 12-month follow-up. A sample of 19 smokers presenting bilateral Miller Class I or II gingival recessions were included. Selected sites randomly received both ADMG and EMD (test) or ADMG alone (control). Probing depth, clinical attachment level, gingival recession height, keratinized tissue, and root coverage were evaluated. Mean gain in recession height (P < .05), sites with complete root coverage (P < .05), and percentage of root coverage (59.7% and 52.8%, respectively) favored the test group compared with the control group.

The objective of this study was to clarify and evaluate the orientation of the collagen fibers around platform-switching (PS) implants with conical abutments in humans after 8 weeks of healing, and to determine how this orientation would help stabilize the soft tissue and prevent bone resorption. On PS implants, circular orientation of collagen fiber was observed as the main arrangement in a cross-sectional view. The circular collagen fibers might be the key factor in stabilizing the soft tissues around the rehabilitation, inhibiting apical migration of the soft tissues and, in turn, protecting the underlying bone.

The aim of this study was to define shapes of maxillary central incisors and determine their relationship with the visual display of interdental papillae during smiling. A sample of 100 patients aged 20 to 25 years were recruited. Photographs were taken and gingival angle, crown width (CW), crown length (CL), contact surface (CS), CW/CL ratio, CS/CL ratio, gingival smile line (GSL), and interdental smile line (ISL) were measured. The data showed an increase in GA leading to an increase in CW and CS/CL ratio. Women showed a higher percentage of papillary display compared with men. This study reinforces the proposed hypothesis that the shape of the teeth and papilla affect the periodontium.

Maxillary sinus membrane perforation has been reported as the most common intraoperative complication during sinus augmentation, potentially leading to postoperative infection and consequent loss of graft or even implant failure. Numerous anatomical factors have been demonstrated to affect membrane tearing. However, careful use of proper instrumentation, such as a reamer, seems to play an important role in minimizing the incidence of these complications. Hence, the aim of the present study was to (1) investigate the reliability of reamer drilling for lateral window preparation; (2) examine the incidence of membrane perforation; and (3) study the factors that might influence membrane perforation. Results from this study showed the safety and effectiveness of using a reamer to perform lateral window approach sinus augmentation. The sinus membrane perforation rate was found to be 12.5%. A slightly higher perforation rate was noted in thinner maxillary lateral walls (< 1.25 mm). The authors concluded that reamer drilling is a safe and effective alternate technique for opening the lateral window wall when the lateral wall thickness is ≥ 1.25mm.

This study aimed to analyze and compare the failure rate of orthodontic miniimplants (OMIs) in terms of the number of implants (implant failure rate [IFR]) and patients (patient failure rate [PFR]) according to the age, sex, and arch of the patients, the number of primary insertions, and frequency of reinsertions after failure. A total of 394 OMIs (1.2 mm in diameter; 7.0 mm in length) were inserted in 125 patients (24 male and 101 female, mean age 21.95 ± 7.60 years). IFR and PFR were evaluated according to the age and sex of the patient, the number of primary insertions, and the frequency of reinsertions after failure. PFR was 40.08% and IFR was 18.27% after the first insertions. PFR was higher than IFR regardless of the number of OMIs inserted. IFR increased with an increase in the frequency of reinsertions, reaching 66.67% after the fourth insertion, whereas PFR decreased to 25.00% after the second insertion and to 66.67% after the third and fourth insertions. The overall PFR and IFR were 40.80% and 19.29%, respectively. Although male patients, young patients, and location in the mandible showed higher PFR and IFR, there were no significant differences between PFR and IFR according to the sex, age, or arch. PFR was higher than IFR in this study, indicating that the treatment process could be more strongly affected by PFR than IFR. The failure rate can increase with the frequency of OMI reinsertions after failure. Sex, age, and arch may have no correlation with primary or recurrent OMI failure.

Management of the anterior maxilla is a challenge in compromised clinical situations such as loss of teeth or soft tissues, alveolar ridge defects, or loss of all three. This report shows the systematic sequence of surgical and prosthetic management in a case of Seibert Class III alveolar atrophy where the patient refused a removable prosthesis. This was resolved with a hybrid metal/porcelain prosthesis with 17-degree multiunit abutments, leading to totally satisfactory esthetic and functional results.

The aim of this article is to present a rare case of a bilateral recurring pyogenic granuloma around dental implants supported by autogenic bone graft. A 55-year-old woman was treated with vertical bone augmentation and dental implants on both sides in the mandible. The patient was followed up for 2 years. Growing granuloma was observed 3 weeks after implants were loaded with splinted porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. The granulomatous tissue was removed and samples were evaluated histologically and microbiologically with real-time polymerase chain reaction. The pathologic lesion recurred four times on one side and three times on the other side and was removed after each recurrence. Finally, the patient decided to have the implants removed due to the aggressive, permanent, and relapsing nature of the proliferative lesions associated with exposed implant threads. After implant removal, no hyperplasia was seen. Microbiologic contamination was excluded as a cause of this recurring granuloma, and it was presumed that the lesion could have been associated with an insufficient zone of attached gingiva around the implants and exposure of implant threads. However, the etiology of this pyogenic granuloma remains unknown. Due to the high recurrence rate of reactive hyperplastic lesions, a long-term follow-up is necessary.

The keys to successful esthetic implant therapy in the anterior region are natural-looking implant restorations and an adequate alveolar ridge volume. Destruction of periodontal tissue resulting from periodontal and/or endodontic inflammation causes esthetic problems. Forced eruption is a valuable adjunct to augmenting the soft and hard tissue where the alveolar ridge is insufficient for esthetics. In this article, forced eruption was adopted for implant site development prior to implant placement and the periodontal tissue was augmented vertically using this technique. This technique simplified the surgical implant procedure without a need for advanced augmentation.

There is limited evidence regarding the effect of the subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) on root coverage in the mandibular anterior region. A sample of 15 Miller Class II and III recessions were treated in 15 patients using a SCTG with a tunnel technique. After a mean follow-up of 20.53 months, the mean percentage of root coverage was 83.25% for all treated recessions. Furthermore, a statistically significant increase of keratinized tissue was observed at the end of the evaluation period (2.66 mm; P = .001). The combination of tunnel technique and SCTG should be considered a treatment option to obtain root coverage in mandibular incisors with Class II and III recession defects.

The aim of this study was to test whether zirconia abutments exhibit the same clinical and esthetic outcomes as titanium abutments in single-tooth implant restorations in the esthetic area. The 24 treated patients were randomly assigned to a test (zirconia abutment) or control (titanium abutment) group. Objective evaluations were carried out using the Implant Crown Aesthetic Index (ICAI) and the Papilla Index (PI) at the 1-month and 12-month follow-up examinations after crown cementation. No significant differences, either in ICAI or in other periodontal or radiographic measurements, were observed. At 1 year, zirconia and titanium abutments exhibited the same esthetic outcomes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the clinical efficacy of periosteal pedicle graft (PPG) and acellular dermal matrix allograft (ADMA) in conjunction with coronally advanced flap (CAF) in the treatment of gingival recession during a 1-year follow-up. A sample of 14 patients, each with two similar Miller Class I or II gingival recession (28 recession sites), was selected. Each recession site was randomly assigned to the experimental site (PPG + CAF) or the control site (ADMG + CAF). The clinical parameters recorded at baseline and 12 months postoperatively were probing pocket depth, width of keratinized gingiva, and clinical attachment level, whereas full-mouth and sitespecific plaque and gingival index and vertical recession depth and width were recorded at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Analysis was performed to determine if treatment differences were present. The mean recession depth in experimental sites decreased from 2.89 ± 0.40 mm at baseline to 0.25 ± 0.50 mm at 12 months, corresponding to a mean root coverage of 92.79% ± 14.25%. In control sites, recession shrank from 2.93 ± 0.55 mm at baseline to 0.32 ± 0.46 mm at 12 months follow-up, demonstrating a mean root coverage of 89.79% ± 14.73%. Compared to the use of ADMA, the PPG technique uses similar incision design and flap management at the graft site, is equivalent in technique sensitivity, and has a perceived improvement in esthetic outcome.