A swallowed denture

Endosseous Dental Implant Materials and Clinical Outcomes of Different Alloys: A Systematic Review

In recent years, implantology has made significant progress, as it has now become a safe and predictable practice. The development of new geometries, primary and secondary, of new surfaces and alloys, has made this possible. The purpose of this review is to analyze the different alloys present on the market, such as that in zirconia, and evaluate their clinical differences with those most commonly used, such as those in grade IV titanium. The review, conducted on major scientific databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and MDPI yielded a startling number of 305 results. After the application of the filters and the evaluation of the results in the review, only 10 Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) were included. Multiple outcomes were considered, such as Marginal Bone Level (MBL), Bleeding on Probing (BoP), Survival Rate, Success Rate and parameters related to aesthetic and prosthetic factors. There are currently no statistically significant differences between the use of zirconia implants and titanium implants, neither for fixed prosthetic restorations nor for overdenture restorations. Only the cases reported complain about the rigidity and, therefore, the possibility of fracture of the zirconium. Certainly the continuous improvement in these materials will ensure that they could be used safely while maintaining their high aesthetic performance.

Prosthetic Surgical Templates and Dental Implant Site Time Preparation: An In Vitro Study

Numerous types of prosthodontics surgical guides, with and without metallic sleeves, have been found to be useful in clinical studies. The aim of this in vitro research was to compare the time required to complete the surgical procedure with two differently designed surgical prosthetic templates. Ten identical prototype models of mandible based on a CBCT and optical scan of a partially edentulous patient with missing teeth numbers 37, 46, and 47 were prepared and then printed. Five of these models were used for implant site preparation with a surgical guide without metal sleeves and dedicated surgical kit, and the other five models were used for the same procedure performed with a surgical guide with metal sleeves and a dedicated surgical kit. The time of implant site preparation was measured and recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test for independent samples. Differences between groups were found to be statistically significant (t = −9.94; df = 28; p = 0.0000) with a lower value in favor of the surgical templates without metallic sleeves. Different types of prosthodontics surgical guides, with or without metallic sleeves, seemed to be an important factor which can significantly impact the time of implant site preparation and, therefore, the overall surgical procedure.

Duodenal obstruction due to accidental swallowing of a dental prosthesis: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Artificial dentures are the most common object ingested by elderly patients and account for 4-18% of all foreign body ingestions. Denture impaction in the small bowel is a rare phenomenon. Surgery of the duodenum is difficult, so endoscopy should be the first choice in these patients. There are very rare case reports on denture ingestion-induced duodenal obstruction or perforation, so the aim of this publication was to show a rare case of accidental ingestion of a dental prosthesis with duodenal obstruction and also perforation that could not be treated with endoscopic management and was managed with duodenal kocherization and gastrostomy.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 47-year-old Iranian woman presented to our hospital with epigastric abdominal pain of 2 hours' duration after the accidental ingestion of a dental prosthesis 2 days before admission. The patient had severe epigastric tenderness. Radiographic examination revealed nothing. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a swallowed lodged denture in the second to third parts of the duodenum, and the attempt to extract the denture failed. The patient underwent laparotomy and duodenal kocherization, pushing the denture to the stomach, and gastrostomy, and the denture was brought out without any complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with old and worn dentures should have their prosthesis reconstructed and redesigned periodically in order to prevent denture ingestion and its complications. Early surgical intervention is recommended in patients with failed endoscopic extraction of foreign bodies and in those with duodenal perforation.

Biological and Chemo-Physical Features of Denture Resins

In the dental field, the study of materials has always been the basis of the clinical practice. Over the years, with the evolution of materials, it has been possible to produce safe and predictable prosthetic devices, with ever better aesthetic features, biocompatibility and patient satisfaction. This review briefly analyzes the features of dental resin materials to underline the biological, microbiological and chemo-physical characteristics. The main aim of prosthodontics is to rehabilitate patients and therefore improve their quality of life. Dental resins are the main materials used for the production of dentures. Once solidified, these polymers have different mechanical or surface characteristics. The results of the literature on these characteristics were analyzed and some new brand dental resins, known as modern resin, were subsequently evaluated. The new materials are undoubtedly a step forward in the creation of dental prostheses, and also in all subsequent maintenance phases. This review shows how changing the chemical structure of the resins could have microbiological influences on the growth and management of the biofilm, and also physical influences in terms of its mechanical characteristics. The development of new materials is a constant goal in dentistry in order to obtain increasingly predictable rehabilitations.

Dentures discovered in larynx 8 days after general anaesthetic

An active 72-year-old man presented to the accident and emergency department (A&E) with odynophagia, dysphagia and haemoptysis 6 days after a minor operation and was discharged after treatment for an aspiration pneumonia. He presented to A&E 2 days later with worsening symptoms and was found to have dentures lodged in his larynx which were then removed in theatre. For 6 weeks after removal, he had periodic episodes of frank haemoptysis requiring multiple blood transfusions and, after extensive investigation, was found to have an erosion into an arterial vessel on his right parapharyngeal wall, just posterior to the glossopharyngeal sulcus. This case raises questions about perioperative care in patients with dentures, diagnostic decision-making in the emergency care setting and postoperative care after delayed removal of foreign bodies from the upper aerodigestive tract.

Designing for Safety: Implications of a Fifteen Year Review of Swallowed and Aspirated Dentures

Objectives

Dentures are worn by around 20% of the population, yet if they become displaced they may enter the gastrointestinal or respiratory system, sometimes with grave consequences. The aim of this study was to review recent published literature in order to identify the epidemiology of patients and characteristics of swallowed and aspirated dental prostheses, and propose strategies to minimise these risks.

Material and Methods

A fifteen year retrospective of published case series and case reports was carried out. Photographs, radiographs and descriptions of the dental prostheses were gathered, as well as the patient’s presenting complaint, the anatomical site where the denture was caught and the procedure required to remove the denture.

Results

Ninety one separate events of swallowed or aspirated dentures were identified from 83 case reports and series from 28 countries. Average age was 55 years, and these were 74% male. Photographs were retrieved for 49 of these dentures. Clasps were present in 25 of the dentures. There was no significant difference between clasped and unclasped dentures for perforation rates, need for open surgery and spontaneously passed dentures.

Conclusions

We discuss the implications of this study regarding denture designs, specifically the importance of using a radiopaque acrylic, using clasps when required even if there is a risk of aspiration, advising patients to return if a denture is loose or damaged, and finally that all patients who wear a denture are at risk of aspiration and swallowing events, and associated morbidity and mortality.

Prevalence of oral health-related conditions that could trigger accidents for patients with moderate-to-severe dementia

OBJECTIVE

This study was performed to determine the prevalence of oral health conditions unnoticed by doctors and ward staff that may increase risk of incidents and/or accidents in hospitalised patients with moderate-severe dementia.

BACKGROUND DATA DISCUSSING THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE FIELD

Dementia patients may not recognise risks in the mouth, such as tooth mobility or ill-fitting dental prostheses and/or dentures. In addition to the risk of choking, injury by sharp edges of collapsed teeth or prosthodontics could pose risks. However, many previous publications were limited to case reports or series.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ninety-two consecutive hospitalised dementia patients (M: 52, F: 40, median age: 82.5 years, range: 62-99 years, from 2011 to 2014), referred for dentistry for dysphagia rehabilitation, were enrolled in this study. Participants referred for dental treatment with dental problems detected by ward staff were excluded. All participants had a Global Clinical Dementia Rating Score >2. Their dental records were evaluated retrospectively for issues that may cause incidents and/or accidents.

RESULTS

Problems in the mouth, for example tooth stumps, dental caries, and ill-fitting dentures, were detected in 51.1% of participants (47/92). Furthermore, 23.9% (22/92) showed risk factors that could lead to incidents and/or accidents, for example falling out of teeth and/or prosthodontics or injury by sharp edges of teeth and/or prosthodontics.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospitalised moderate-severe dementia patients had a high prevalence of oral health conditions unnoticed by doctors and ward staff that may increase risk of incidents and/or accidents.