In this retrospective study reviewing 30 months of treatment, 53 partially or completely edentulous patients were provided with implant-supported restorations. The restorative aspects of the therapy were undertaken by an experienced prosthodontist who had just begun involvement with implant rehabilitation techniques. Patients were treated in two centres, 21 in a major teaching institution (Group A) and 32 in a private practice (Group B). In Group A, the implants were placed by experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeons just beginning involvement in implant techniques. The implants of the Group B patients were placed by surgeons with a minimum of 2 years implant experience. It appeared that the surgeon's experience had a major impact on the failure probability of unloaded implants. Loading conditions and the design of the prosthesis may be the decisive determinants for the probability of success with loaded implants. The hazards of extensive cantilevered extensions were demonstrated. The results suggest that those entering implant prosthodontics should not expect their early work to match the results obtained from established centres.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Retention profiles of stud-type precision attachments.

This study measured the retention profiles of 11 commercially available stud-type attachment systems suitable for use with overdentures. The vertical distance over which resistance to separation existed was recorded and related to the configuration of the attachments. In many of the systems tested, only a small portion of the vertical length of the attachment contributed to the retention of the unit.

Denture Design↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of the major connector on abutment tooth and denture base movement: an in vitro study.

This in vitro study investigated the effect of the major connector on distal abutment tooth and denture base movements when loads were applied to a partial denture with extracoronal attachments. A brass mechanism was constructed for load application, and the abutment and base movements were measured in three planes using a kinesiograph. It was determined that cutting the major connector affected the degree of abutment tooth movement but not the direction. After cutting the major connector, the base movement increased in all three planes with the different forces applied. The direction of the base movement changes only in the buccolingual plane.

Dental Abutments↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Abutment teeth with extracoronal attachments: the effects of splinting on tooth movement.

This in vitro study investigated the effects of splinting on abutment tooth movement when loads were applied to a removable partial denture framework with extracoronal attachments. The abutment tooth movements occurring in the vertical, frontal, and sagittal planes were measured with a kinesiograph modified for the purpose. It was demonstrated that splinting abutment teeth resulted in a significant decrease in the mesiodistal and buccolingual movements of the distal abutment under vertically applied loads. The direction of the abutment tooth movement was related to the type of loading and was unaffected by splinting. Bilateral loading produced significantly less movement of the single abutment tooth mesiodistally and buccolingually than unilateral loading.

Chi-Square Distribution↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The DIA anatomic abutment system and telescopic prostheses: a clinical report.

Implant-supported prostheses may benefit from the versatility of design and favorable appearance offered by telescopic restorations. This project investigated the effectiveness of 208 abutments designed and produced by Dental Imaging Associates and the 73 prostheses supported by them over a 2-year period. No complications were found in the single-tooth group, although the sample was small (n = 7). Only 8.17% of the 208 abutment screws became loose during the initial postloading period. Once retightened, 2.4% of the total loosened for the second time. Higher screw-loosening rates were found in maxillary restorations, while the inclusion of a distal cantilevered pontic produced a significant increase in maintenance requirements.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Telescopic prostheses for implants.

This retrospective study investigated the outcome of 73 telescopic implant-supported fixed prostheses. Fifty-four prostheses were entirely cement-retained, and 19 incorporated a screw-clamping unit. The rate of complications was low and in most cases minor in nature. Cement-retained prostheses involving a distal cantilevered extension required the greatest postoperative maintenance. Despite the small number of combined screw- and cement-retained prostheses, the lack of complications and ease of retrievability make this approach worthy of further study.

Adult↗