One‐piece zirconia oral implants for single‐tooth replacement: Three‐year results from a long‐term prospective cohort study

Aim

This 3‐year report of a prospective long‐term cohort investigation aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of a one‐piece zirconia oral implant for single‐tooth replacement.

Materials and Methods

Sixty‐five patients received a 1‐stage implant surgery with immediate temporization. Standardized radiographs were taken at implant insertion, after 1 year, and after 3 years to monitor peri‐implant bone levels. A univariate analysis of the association of different baseline parameters on marginal bone loss from implant insertion to 36 months was performed. Soft‐tissue parameters were evaluated at prosthesis insertion, after 6 months, after 1 year, and at the 3‐year follow‐up.

Results

After 3 years, six posterior site implants were lost, giving a cumulative survival rate of 90.8%. The mean marginal bone loss was 1.45 mm; 35% of the implants lost at least 2 mm bone, and 22% more than 3 mm. The univariate analysis did not identify any parameter associated with marginal bone loss. Probing depth, clinical attachment level, and bleeding index increased over 3 years, and plaque index decreased.

Conclusions

The low survival rate of the presented ceramic implant and especially the high frequency of advanced bone loss are noticeable but remain unexplained.     

Cost‐effectiveness of an experimental caries‐control regimen in a 3.4‐yr randomized clinical trial among 11–12‐yr‐old Finnish schoolchildren

The aim of this study was to assess the cost‐effectiveness of an experimental caries‐control regimen in a randomized clinical trial (RCT) conducted in Pori, Finland, in 2001–2005. Children (n = 497) who were 11–12 yr of age and had at least one active initial caries lesion at baseline were studied. The children in the experimental group (n = 250) were offered an individually designed patient‐centered regimen for caries control. The children in the control group (n = 247) received standard dental care. Furthermore, the whole population was exposed to continuous community‐level oral health promotion. Individual costs of treatment procedures and outcomes (DMFS increment score) for the follow‐up period of 3.4 yr were calculated for each child in both groups. The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio was €34.07 per averted DMF surface. The experimental regimen was more effective, and also more costly. However, the total costs decreased year after year, and for the last 2 yr the experimental regimen was less expensive than the standard dental care. The experimental regimen would probably have been more cost‐effective than standard dental care if the follow‐up period had been longer, the regimen less comprehensive, and/or if dental nurses had conducted the preventive procedures.     

Should short‐term use of alcohol‐containing mouthrinse be avoided for fear of worsening xerostomia?

This study aimed to assess the short‐term effect of alcohol‐containing mouthrinse versus mouthrinse without alcohol on xerostomia scores reported by Xerostomia Inventory (XI ) scores and short version of the Xerostomia Inventory (SXI ). This study was a two‐group parallel‐arm randomised controlled trial where participants were randomly allocated to twice a day for 7 days use of either alcohol‐containing or alcohol‐free mouthrinse. Allocation was concealed. The participants, the outcome assessors and the statistician were blinded to the allocation status. A total of 163 participants completed the pre‐and post‐intervention data collection. There were no statistically significant differences between the study groups with respect to demographics or other measured independent variables. After adjusting for age and gender, regression coefficient (95% CI ) for XI was 0.02 (?1.72‐2.29) and that for SXI was 0.03 (?0.54‐0.83). Both adjusted and unadjusted models showed no significant differences in change in XI or SXI . The mean difference in scores between the groups for XI was ?0.45 (?2.45‐1.55) and for SXI was 0.05 (?0.65‐0.75). There was no significant difference in the change in xerostomia levels as a result of short‐term exposure to alcohol‐containing mouthrinse, when compared to those exposed to alcohol‐free mouthrinse. Short‐term use of alcohol‐containing mouthrinse does not result in worsening xerostomia.