An Osteotomy Tool That Preserves Bone Viability: Evaluation in Preclinical and Clinical Settings

Slow drilling technique may enhance peri-operative patient-reported outcomes in dental implant surgery

STUDY DESIGN

A randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE

To assess and compare patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) between low-speed drilling without irrigation and high-speed drilling with irrigation for implant site preparation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki principles, obtained approval from the local Ethics Committee, was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, and was written in accordance with CONSORT guidelines. Included were adult patients with single posterior edentulism who exhibited good oral hygiene, sufficient bone dimensions for implant placement, adequate keratinized mucosa, stable occlusion, and a healthy periodontium. Patients were randomly assigned to either the test group (low-speed drilling (150 rpm) without irrigation) or the control group (high-speed drilling (800 rpm) with irrigation). A single dental implant was placed for each patient, with all surgeries conducted by the same experienced operator according to a standardized protocol. Patient satisfaction during surgery, including drilling-time perception, vibration, pressure, noise, comfort, and drowning sensation, as well as postoperative pain and inflammation, were assessed using a 100-mm visual analog scale. Quality of life (QOL) was evaluated using a 5-graded Likert scale for mouth opening, chewing, speaking, sleeping, daily routine, and job. Follow up extended on daily basis for 7 days. The PROMs were collected and analyzed in a blinded manner by independent researchers and a statistician to prevent bias.

RESULTS

The study included 66 patients (33 males and 33 females) with a mean age of 54.5 years. Patients in the test group reported a lower perception of drilling time, vibration, and noise but a higher perception of pressure compared to the control group; however, these differences were not statistically significant. Compared to the test group, patients in the control group experienced significantly greater drowning sensation and lesser comfort measures (p < 0.001). There was a moderate inverse correlation between drowning sensation and comfort (r = -0.57). The real drilling time was significantly longer in the test group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The test group reported significantly lower pain levels during the first 12 h (p < 0.05), and significantly lower inflammation levels at the second day (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. No significant differences were observed between the groups at any time point for any of the QOL parameters (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

For a single implant site preparation, low-speed drilling without irrigation seems to offer greater patient comfort compared to high-speed drilling with irrigation, mainly due to reduced drowning sensation. Patients reported less postoperative pain and inflammation with the low-speed technique. Confirming these findings will require more research.

Emerging factors affecting peri-implant bone metabolism

Implant dentistry has evolved to the point that standard implant osseointegration is predictable. This is attributed in part to the advancements in material sciences that have led toward improvements in implant surface technology and characteristics. Nonetheless, there remain several cases where implant therapy fails (specifically at early time points), most commonly attributed to factors affecting bone metabolism. Among these patients, smokers are known to have impaired bone metabolism and thus be subject to higher risks of early implant failure and/or late complications related to the stability of the peri-implant bone and mucosal tissues. Notably, however, emerging data have unveiled other critical factors affecting osseointegration, namely, those related to the metabolism of bone tissues. The aim of this review is to shed light on the effects of implant-related factors, like implant surface or titanium particle release; surgical-related factors, like osseodensification or implanted biomaterials; various drugs, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, proton pump inhibitors, anti-hypertensives, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, and statins, and host-related factors, like smoking, diet, and metabolic syndrome on bone metabolism, and aseptic peri-implant bone loss. Despite the infectious nature of peri-implant biological complications, these factors must be surveyed for the effective prevention and management of peri-implantitis.

Performance of a new implant system and drilling protocol-A minipig intraoral dental implant model study

AIM

A new implant system encompassing implants with a tri-oval cross-sectional design and a simplified site preparation protocol at low speed and no irrigation has been developed. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the new implant system using the minipig intraoral dental implant model.

METHODS

Eight Yucatan minipigs were included. Twelve weeks after extractions, four implants per animal were randomly placed and allowed to heal transmucosal for 13 weeks: two Ø3.5 × 10 mm implants with a back-tapered collar and circular cross-section (control) and two Ø3.5 × 11 mm implants with tri-oval collar and cross-section (test). MicroCT and histological analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Thirty-two implants were placed; one implant for the control group was lost. Histologically, BIC was higher in the test compared with the control group (74.1% vs. 60.9%, p < .001). At the platform level, inflammation was statistically significantly higher albeit mild in the test compared with the control group. No other significant differences were observed between groups. MicroCT analysis showed that bone-to-implant-contact (BIC) and trabecular thickness were statistically significantly higher for the test than the control group. Test group had significantly higher first BIC distance than controls on lingual sites.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study results support the safety and efficacy of the new dental implant system and simplified site preparation protocol; human studies should be carried out to confirm these findings.

Transmucosal abutments in the esthetic zone: Surgical and prosthetic considerations

OBJECTIVE

This article describes an updated step-by-step protocol for transmucosal abutment selection and treatment sequencing after immediate implant placement in the esthetic zone.

CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Current surgical and prosthetic concepts strive to preserve hard and soft-tissues to provide optimal esthetics at the implant-abutment interface. Consequently, restoring implants in the esthetic zone with transmucosal abutments presents a great challenge and must take into consideration implant depth, angulation, and bucco-lingual position as well as transmucosal height and space for an optimized emergence profile of the restoration and the dimensions of the anterior tooth to be restored. The proper selection of the type, shape, and dimensions of implant components and connections, determined by the product portfolio offered by the implant manufacturer, play a critical role in the ability to adequately address these challenges. This article provides an update on surgical and prosthetic workflows for single implant restorations in the esthetic zone.

CONCLUSIONS

Following esthetic, mechanical, and biologic principles, the long-term success of implant-supported restorations in the esthetic zone is directly correlated to proper execution and sequencing of surgical and prosthetic treatment steps, especially after immediate implant placement. These steps must be critically assessed based on the current scientific evidence to achieve the desired clinical outcomes on a predictable and consistent basis.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Selection of surgical and prosthetic treatment protocols to achieve ideal esthetic outcomes and emergence profiles in implant dentistry is often a great challenge, not only determined by technical and clinical skills of the provider but also by the type and dimensions of implant components and connections offered by the manufacturer. Following certain decision-making principles and workflows are key for clinical success with implant-supported restorations after immediate implant placement the esthetic zone.

A Retrospective Observational Study Assessing the Clinical Outcomes of a Novel Implant System with Low-Speed Site Preparation Protocol and Tri-Oval Implant Geometry

A novel, biologically friendly implant concept system introduces low-speed (50 rpm) site preparation instruments used without irrigation and a tri-oval, tapered implant designed to reduce stress on cortical bone without sacrificing mechanical stability. This retrospective, observational, multicenter study (clinicaltrials.gov NCT04736771) collected data from consecutive patients treated with at least one novel concept system implant to evaluate clinical outcomes after 1 year in function. The primary endpoint was a marginal bone level change (MBLC) from loading to 1 year, and secondary endpoints included implant survival and clinician feedback. Ninety-five patients (54 women and 41 men, mean age: 58 ± 12 years) were treated with 165 implants. For 94.5% of implants, site preparation was performed in two steps. The mean follow-up from implant insertion was 1.8 ± 0.2 years. Mean MBLC from implant loading to 1-year follow-up was +0.15 ± 0.85 mm (n = 124 implants). At the last follow-up, the implant survival rate was 98.0%. Clinician satisfaction with the novel concept system was high. The novel concept system offers an easy-to-use implant placement protocol, with most implants placed using two steps. The minimal bone remodeling and high survival rate observed across a variety of indications and treatment protocols demonstrate broad versatility and confirm the clinical benefits of this biologically friendly innovation.