A One-Year, Multicenter, Retrospective Evaluation of Narrow and Low-Profile Abutments Used to Rehabilitate Complete Edentulous Lower Arches: The OT Bridge Concept

Evaluation of prosthetic screw loosening in all-on-four implant-supported restorations with two different connection systems

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The OT BRIDGE connection system can be an alternative to multiunit abutments (MUA) for patients with all-on-four implant-supported restorations. However, the amount of prosthetic screw loosening of the OT BRIDGE in comparison with the MUA used in all-on-four implant restorations is unclear.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the loss of removal torque in the absence of load and after dynamic cyclic loading between the 2 different connection systems: OT BRIDGE attachment and MUA used in all-on-four implant-supported restorations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Four dummy implants (Neobiotech Co Ltd) were inserted into an edentulous mandibular model according to the all-on-four concept. Sixteen screw-retained restorations were digitally fabricated and assigned to 2 groups: the OT BRIDGE group received 8 restorations connected with OT BRIDGE (Rhein 83 srl); the MUA group received 8 restorations connected with MUA (Neobiotech Co Ltd). Restorations were tightened to the abutments according to the manufacturers' recommendations by using a digital torque gauge. The removal torque value (RTV) was measured with the same digital torque gauge. After retightening, dynamic cyclic loading was applied by using a pneumatic custom cyclic loading machine. RTV after loading was measured with the same torque gauge. From the RTVs measured, the ratios of removal torque loss (RTL) before and after loading and the difference between before and after loading were calculated. Data were analyzed by using the independent samples t test, paired samples t test, and mixed model analysis of variance (α=.05).

RESULTS

The OT BRIDGE showed significantly higher RTL before loading ratio (%) than the MUA in anterior abutments (P=.002) and posterior abutments (P=.003), as well as significantly higher RTL after loading ratio (%) in anterior abutments (P=.02). The MUA showed significantly higher RTL difference between before and after loading ratio (%) than the OT BRIDGE in both anterior (P=.001) and posterior abutments (P<.001). In both systems, posterior abutments showed significantly higher RTL after loading ratio (%) than anterior abutments (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Posterior abutments showed more prosthetic screw loosening than anterior ones in both systems. The OT BRIDGE showed higher total prosthetic screw loosening than the MUA, although this was not significant in posterior abutments after loading. However, the OT BRIDGE was less affected by cyclic loading than the MUA.

Dental anxiety, Quality of Life and body image: gender differences in Italian and Spanish population

BACKGROUND

Dental anxiety is an excessive and irrational negative emotional state experienced by population; the dental anxiety is common throughout the lifespan and is an obstacle to improving oral health behaviors and outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess gender differences in dental anxiety and to investigate if oral health impacts patients' Quality of Life and the perception of their body image.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 366 subjects selected in Italy and Spain (January 2021-September 2021). For this study, data were gathered using Google Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA). Data were collected including the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS), Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaires and Body Uneasiness Test.

RESULTS

Women showed higher scores than men for the dental anxiety. The regression analysis showed that gender, age, and Oral Health Impact are predictors of "dental anxiety." A borderline significance emerges for the independent variable body uneasiness.

CONCLUSIONS

The dental anxiety is widespread in the population, with a higher prevalence among women and increases with increasing age. It can negatively affect patients' Quality of Life, well-being, and self-esteem. These results underline the importance of addressing both individual and group strategies for preventing or treating dental anxiety.

One-Year Multicenter Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing OT Equator® and Locator Attachments to Retain an Early Loaded Implant Overdenture on Two Implants

This investigation aimed to compare the effectiveness of the OT Equator® (Rhein, Bologna, Italy) and the Locator attachment systems used to retain early loaded implant-retained overdentures. This study was designed as a multicenter randomised controlled trial of parallel groups. After implant placement, the patients were randomised to receive OT Equator® attachments in the test group or Locator attachments in the control group. The outcome measures were implant and prosthetic success and survival rates, any biological and technical complication, marginal bone loss, patients' satisfaction, and periodontal parameters. Overall, 42 patients were consecutively enrolled and treated. One implant was lost in the control group, while no implants were lost in the test group. No prostheses failed in both groups. Only a few complications were experienced in both groups. The main was represented by loss of retention of the attachments (retentive caps). The OT Equator® attachment showed statistically lower periodontal parameters. In conclusion, both attachment systems were suitable for overdenture implant retention.

Mechanical Properties Evaluation of Three Different Materials for Implant Supported Overdenture: An In-Vitro Study

Aim: the aim of this study was to compare the flexural strength and elastic modulus of three-dimensionally (3D) printed, conventional heat-cured, and high-impact implant-supported overdenture materials specimens. Materials and Methods: Thirty implant-supported overdenture materials specimens (bar-shaped, 65.0 × 10.2 × 5.1 ± 0.2 mm3) with one central hole were fabricated using 3D-printed, heat-cured conventional, and high-impact denture base resins (n = 10/group). Autopolymerizing acrylic resin was used to attach titanium matrix housings to the central holes of the specimens. A three-point bending test was conducted using a universal testing machine and a model analog with a crosshead speed of 5 mm/min. The indicative flexural strength and elastic modulus were recorded. Data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Tukey tests at α = 0.05. Results: One-way ANOVA revealed a significant effect of denture base material on the flexural strength (p < 0.001) but not on the elastic modulus (p = 0.451) of the evaluated materials. The flexural strength of the 3D-printed specimens (95.99 ± 9.87 MPa) was significantly higher than the conventional (77.18 ± 9.69 MPa; p < 0.001) and high-impact ones (82.74 ± 7.73 MPa; p = 0.002). Conclusions: The maximum flexural strength was observed in the 3D-printed implant-supported overdenture material specimens, which might indicate their suitability as an alternative to the conventionally fabricated ones. Flexural strength and elastic modulus of conventional and high-impact heat-cured implant-supported overdenture materials specimens were comparable.

The New Elderly Patient: A Necessary Upgrade

The elderly individual is becoming the most common patient in clinical practice due to the increasing average life span, especially in developed countries. The current elderly patients are different from those of some decades ago. They usually have an active social life, want to be informed, and are actively involved in the current society with consequent high expectations for medical and dental treatment. However, not all the elderly patients are like this. Some of them show limited financial resources, reduced mental and manual skills, and poor motivation. The purpose of this communication is to make a brief characterization of the new elderly population in view of prosthetic and dental management.