International Journal of Oral Implantology, 02/2013

Purpose: To evaluate possible benefits of the adjunctive use of light-activated disinfection (LAD) in the treatment of peri-implantitis. Materials and methods: A total of 80 patients with at least one implant affected by peri-implantitis defined as at least 3 mm of bone loss on baseline radiographs in the presence of signs of infection (pus exudation and/or soft tissue swelling and/or soft tissue redness) were non-surgically or surgically treated for peri-implantitis and 50% of them were randomly allocated to receive an additional LAD treatment (FotoSan) according to a parallel group design at four different centres. Only one implant per patient was considered. Outcome measures were implant failures, recurrence of peri-implantitis, complications, peri-implant marginal bone level (RAD) changes, probing pocket depth (PPD) changes and number of re-treatment sessions recorded by blinded assessors. Patients were followed up for 1 year after treatment. Results: Five treated patients did not fit the original inclusion criteria: 4 because they were not affected by the present definition of peri-implantitis and 1 due to being treated with antibiotics. However, they were included according to an intention-to-treat-analysis concept. Nine patients of the LAD group were treated surgically versus 10 control patients. After 1 year, 3 patients dropped out, all from the LAD group. One implant treated with the LAD therapy failed versus none of the control group. Four complications occurred: 3 in 3 patients of the LAD group and 1 in the control group. Recurrence of peri-implantitis defined as 2 mm of peri-implant bone loss or more recorded on standardised periapical radiographs was observed in 6 patients, 3 from each group. In total, 29 implants were re-treated 1 to 4 times in the LAD group versus 33 implants 1 to 4 times in the control group; the difference was not statistically significant. Peri-implant marginal bone levels remained stable up to 1 year with no statistically significant differences between groups (0.13 mm favouring LAD therapy; 95% CI of difference -0.47 to 0.72; P = 0.68). PPD significantly reduced in both groups, and at 1 year there were no significant differences between groups (difference 0.19 mm favouring LAD therapy; 95% CI of difference -0.70 to 1.07; P = 0.68). There were significant differences between centres for the number of re-treatment sessions delivered, PPD changes, plaque and marginal bleeding 1 year after treatment, but not for implant failures, complications, RAD changes and recurrence of peri-implantitis. The results did not change when removing the 5 patients who did not match the original inclusion criteria. Conclusions: Adjunctive use of LAD therapy (FotoSan) with mechanical cleaning of implants affected by peri-implantitis did not improve any clinical outcomes when compared to mechanical cleaning alone up to 1 year after treatment. Keywords: infection, light-activated disinfection, peri-implantitis

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of 2 versus 4 implants placed flapless in fully edentulous mandibles and immediately restored with metal-resin screw-retained cross-arch prostheses. Materials and methods: Sixty patients from two different centres were randomised: 30 to the allon- 2 group and 30 to the all-on-4 group according to a parallel group design. To be immediately loaded, implants had to be inserted with a minimum torque of 40 Ncm. Outcome measures were prosthesis and implant failures, complications, and marginal bone level changes. Results: Flaps were raised in 18 patients. A total of 2 implants in 2 patients did not reach the planned insertion torque and were immediately replaced by larger diameter ones. One year after loading, no drop-out or implant failure occurred. Eight biomechanical complications occurred in the all-on-2 group versus 8 complications in the all-on-4 group. There were no statistically significant differences for complications between groups. There were no statistically significant differences for marginal peri-implant bone levels between the two groups (estimate of the difference = -0.16; 95%CI -0.40 to 0.08; P (ANCOVA) = 0.074), with both groups losing a statistically significant amount of marginal bone (0.74 mm for all-on-2 implants and 0.58 mm for all-on-4 implants). There were statistically significant differences between the two centres, with more bone being lost for the Bologna centre (0.26 mm versus 1.07 mm). Conclusions: These preliminary results, up to 1 year after loading, suggest that immediately loaded mandibular cross-arch fixed prostheses can be supported by only 2 dental implants. Longer followups (approximately 10 years) are needed to properly evaluate this therapeutic option. Keywords: all-on-2, dental implants, flapless, immediate loading, randomised controlled trial

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate plaque levels following sonic-powered and manual toothbrushing in subjects with dental implants. Materials and methods: This study included 36 male and 47 female partially edentulous patients (age range 45-78 years, mean age 59.8 years) that were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: the sonic toothbrush group (n = 42; Philips Sonicare FlexCare® toothbrush) or the manual toothbrush group (n = 41; Oral-B P40®). Clinical, microbiological and immunological examinations were performed blinded at baseline and after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Microbiological analyses were performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Immunological analyses (prostaglandin E2) were performed by chromatography-electrospray spectrometry. Results: The plaque index difference between baseline and 12 months at implants showed no significant difference between sonic or manual toothbrushing in a two-sided Mann-Whitney test (W = 773.5, P = 0.426, 95% CI -0.64 to 0.20). At the end of the study, there were no significant changes in plaque index, bleeding on probing, gingival index, pocket probing depth, gingival recession, clinical attachment level or the microbiological and immunological outcomes at implants or teeth in either group. Conclusions: This study uncovered no significant difference between sonic and manual toothbrushing for plaque reduction at implants and teeth. Both toothbrushes maintain healthy peri-implant soft tissue. Keywords: bacterial infection, dental implants, manual toothbrush, PGE2, sonic-powered toothbrush, real-time PCR

Purpose: The purpose of this randomised controlled trial is to compare the efficacy of two techniques for enhancing peri-implant keratinised mucosa: acellular dermal matrix allograft versus free gingival grafts. Materials and methods: Thirty-six patients having implant sites with less than 1.5 mm of keratinised mucosa width were randomly assigned to two groups. Thirty-six implants placed in 18 patients received acellular dermal matrix allografts (ADM group), while 36 implants placed in 18 individuals received free gingival grafts (FGG group). Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD) and the width of attached mucosa (WAM) were measured at baseline and at 1, 3 and 6 months following surgery. Results: WAM in the FGG group was significantly greater than the ADM group at 3 (P = 0.026) and 6 months (P 0.001). In the FGG group, final gain of WAM was greater (1.58 mm in ADM group, 2.57 mm in FGG group) (P 0.001) and postoperative relapse was smaller (2.68 mm in the ADM group, 1.73 mm in the FGG group) (P 0.001). PI and GI scores were greater in the ADM group at 6 months (P = 0.016 and P = 0.61, respectively). The FGG group demonstrated a greater PD value at 3 months (P 0.001), however there was no significant difference between the groups at 6 months (P = 0.317). Conclusions: Although ADM allografts are capable of increasing the width of peri-implant keratinised mucosa, FGGs seem to be more effective. ADM allografts may be the application of choice at implant sites in need of major grafts and in patients where a donor site should be avoided for medical or psychological reasons. Keywords: acellular dermal matrix, free gingival graft, peri-implant keratinised mucosa

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of 1-stage versus 2-stage lateral maxillary sinus lift procedures. Materials and methods: Sixty partially edentulous patients requiring 1 to 3 implants and having 1 to 3 mm of residual bone height and at least 5 mm of bone width below the maxillary sinus, as measured on CT scans, were randomised into two equal groups to receive either a 1-stage lateral window sinus lift with simultaneous implant placement or a 2-stage procedure with implant placement delayed by 4 months using a bone substitute in 3 different centres. Implants were submerged for 4 months and loaded with reinforced provisional prostheses, which were replaced, after 4 months, by definitive prostheses. Outcome measures were augmentation procedure failures, prosthesis failures, implant failures, complications and marginal peri-implant bone loss assessed by a blinded outcome assessor. Patients were followed up to 4 months after loading. Only data of implants placed in 1 to 3 mm of bone height were reported. Results: Two patients dropped out from the 1-stage group and none from the 2-stage group. No sinus lift procedure failed in the 1-stage group but 1 failed in the 2-stage group, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 1.00). Two prostheses failed or could not be placed in the planned time in the 1-stage group and 1 in the 2-stage group, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.51). Three implants failed in 3 patients of the 1-stage group versus 1 implant in the 2-stage group, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.28). Two complications occurred in the 1-stage group and 1 in the 2-stage group, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.61). There were no statistically significant differences in bone loss between groups at loading (0.05 mm). Sites treated in 1 stage lost an average of 0.56 mm (SD: 0.36; 95% CI: -0.70 to -0.42; P 0.001) of peri-implant bone and 2-stage sites approximately 0.61 mm (SD: 0.34; 95% CI: -0.74 to -0.48; P 0.001). Conclusions: No statistically significant differences were observed between implants placed according to 1- or 2-stage sinus lift procedures. However, this study may suggest that in patients having a residual bone height between 1 and 3 mm below the maxillary sinus there might be a slightly higher risk for implant failures when performing a 1-stage lateral sinus lift procedure. Keywords: anorganic bovine bone, dental implant, sinus lift, surgical procedures

Purpose: To compare the clinical effectiveness of two implant systems: Way Milano and Kentron (Geass, Pozzuolo del Friuli, UD, Italy). Materials and methods: A total of 64 patients requiring at least two single crowns or partial fixed dental prostheses supported by a maximum of three implants had their sites randomised according to a split-mouth design to receive both implant systems at six centres. Patients were followed up for 4 months after initial loading. Outcome measures were prosthesis/implant failures, any complication and clinician preference. Results: In total, 71 Way Milano and 73 Kentron implants were placed. One patient died 45 days after placement of 2 implants, but all remaining patients were followed up to 4 months post-loading. No Way Milano implant failed whereas 3 Kentron implants failed before loading. Two complications were reported, one at each implant type. There were no statistically significant differences for prosthesis/ implant success and complications between the implant systems. Three operators preferred Way Milano implants whereas the other 3 had no preference. Conclusions: Preliminary short-term data (4 months post-loading) showed no statistically significant differences between the two implant systems, however trends were suggestive of a better clinical performance for Way Milano implants. Keywords: dental implant, effectiveness, laser-treated surface

Purpose: Toothbrushes are manufactured in different designs but it is unclear whether these differences may lead to improvement in the removal of bacterial plaque or make the toothbrushes more appealing to users. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of 11 toothbrushes in terms of plaque removal and their acceptance by patients. Materials and methods: Eleven toothbrushes were randomly assigned to one of the 12 sectors of the mouth of 48 patients. Each patient underwent one plaque recording before and after toothbrushing. Eleven sectors of the mouth were brushed by 11 different toothbrushes, while one sector was used as a control (no toothbrushing). Two questionnaires were also administered to investigate the aesthetic and comfort preference by each participant. Results: All 11 toothbrushes resulted in effective plaque reduction with respect to the control sector (P 0.0001). No significant differences were found between them. Colgate Massager showed the highest score for aesthetic preference by the patients when compared with Butler 311 and Gum Super Tip 463 (P = 0.0148). Oral-B Indicator 35 exhibited the highest score in terms of comfort felt by the patients compared to Colgate Omni and Gum Technique 493 (P = 0.0095). Conclusions: All of the tested toothbrushes, even though different with respect to shape and scope of function, demonstrated efficacious plaque removal. Keywords: dental plaque, mechanical plaque removal, patient preference, randomised controlled trial, toothbrush