Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the placement of dental implants in irradiated patients: systematic review and meta-analysis

This study was a systematic review with meta-analysis to evaluate the influence of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on the survival of dental implants placed in patients who had had radiotherapy for cancer of the head and neck. A systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Embase and the Cochrane Library, between January 1985 and July 2018. The study observed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis) declaration and norms, and the systematic review was duly recorded in the PROSPERO (International prospective register of systematic reviews) database. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and all articles were selected on the basis of PICO questions. The process of eligibility and quality evaluation yielded three studies for statistical analysis. Based on the survival rates, there was no evidence that the risk of an implant failing was different between the patients who received HBOT and those who did not. Moreover, the risk of an implant failing did not depend on the anatomical site. HBOT exerted no beneficial influence on the survival rates of implants placed in irradiated patients, and the risk of an implant failing did not depend on its location.     

Outcomes of dental implant treatment in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis: a systematic review

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to analyze the current literatures and to assess outcomes of implant treatment in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Studies considered for inclusion were searched in Pub-Med. The literature search for studies published in English between 2000 and 2012 was performed. Our findings included literature assessing implant treatment in patients with a history of generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAP). All studies were screened according to inclusion criteria. The outcome measures were survival rate of superstructures, marginal bone loss around implant and survival rate of implants. All studies were divided into two follow-up period: short term study (< 5 years) and long term study (≥ 5 years).

RESULTS

Seven prospective studies were selected, including four short-term and three long-term studies. The survival rates of the superstructures were generally high in patients with GAP, i.e. 95.9 - 100%. Marginal bone loss around implant in patients with GAP as compared with implants in patients with chronic periodontitis or periodontally healthy patients was not significantly greater in short term studies but was significantly greater in long term studies. In short term studies, the survival rates of implants were between 97.4% and 100% in patients with GAP-associated tooth loss, except one study. The survival rates of implants were between 83.3% and 96% in patients with GAP in long term studies.

CONCLUSION

Implant treatment in patients with GAP is not contraindicated provided that adequate infection control and an individualized maintenance program are assured.     

Comparison between flapless and open-flap implant placement: a systematic review and meta-analysis

No consensus has been reached regarding the influence of the flapless and open-flap surgical techniques on the placement of dental implants. This systematic review compared the effects of flapless implant placement and implant placement with elevation of the mucoperiosteal flap in terms of marginal bone loss, implant survival rate and complications rates. This review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO with the registration number CRD42017071475. Two independent reviewers performed a comprehensive search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases for studies published until December 2017. The search identified 559 references. After a detailed review, 24 studies were assessed for eligibility. A total of 1025 patients who had received a total of 1873 dental implants were included. There were no significant differences between the flapless and open-flap surgical techniques in terms of implant survival rates (P = 0.34; risk ratio (RR): 1.36; confidence interval (CI): 0.72–2.56), marginal bone loss (P = 0.23; MD: −0.20; CI: −0.52–0.13), or complication rates (P = 0.67; RR: 1.10; CI: 0.70–1.73). The current meta-analysis showed that the implant survival rate, marginal bone levels, and complications of flapless surgery were similar to those of open-flap surgery over a mean follow-up period of 21.62 months.     

Immediate implant loading following computer-guided surgery

Purpose

The aim of this study was to develop and apply a new method for easy intraoperative adjustment of a provisional fixed full-arch restoration, in order to allow immediate implant loading following computer-guided surgery, regardless of any implant positioning errors compared to the virtual planning.

Methods

In accordance with the NobelGuide™ protocol, a provisional restoration for immediate loading of six maxillary implants was prepared prior to surgery. Because small shifts between the planned and the actual implant positions were to be expected, the provisional restoration was not fabricated directly on temporary cylinders as a conventional one-piece superstructure, but was divided into two portions: six custom made abutments and a long span fixed restoration which were left unconnected. After implantation, the custom abutments were attached to the six implants to be immediately loaded, and the superstructure was cemented simultaneously to all abutments using dual cure resin cement. After the excess cement was cleaned and polished, the superstructure was then reseated. Passive fit was achieved between implants and the superstructure.

Conclusion

The superstructure described in this article can be easily seated and adjusted to accommodate any possible shifts in implant positioning occurring during computer-guided surgery. Through this method uneventful immediate implant loading can be achieved in a reasonable operative time.     

Patient-centred outcomes and dental implant placement in computer-aided free flap mandibular reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Computerised surgical planning (CSP) and computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) have been demonstrated to increase surgical accuracy and reduce operative time in free flap mandibular reconstruction, but evidence is lacking as to their impact on patient-centred outcomes. Implant-supported dental prostheses, however, have been associated with improved quality of life outcomes following free flap mandibular reconstruction. We aim to review reported patient-centred outcomes in mandibular reconstruction with CSP and CAD/CAM and determine whether use of these technologies is associated with higher rates of dental implant placement following free flap mandibular reconstruction. On December 20, 2020, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to PRISMA guidelines for studies reporting quality of life, functional outcomes, and rates of dental implant placement in computer-aided free flap mandibular reconstruction. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to compare dental implant placement rates between surgeries using CSP and those using conventional freehand techniques. A total of 767 articles were screened. Nine articles reporting patient-centred outcomes and 16 articles reporting dental implant outcomes were reviewed. Of those reporting dental implant outcomes, five articles, representing a total of 302 cases, were included in the meta-analysis. Use of CSP was associated with a significant increase in the likelihood of dental implant placement, with an odds ratio of 2.70 (95% CI 1.52 to 4.79, p = 0.0007). Standardised reporting methods and controlled studies are needed to further investigate the impact of CSP and CAD/CAM technologies on functional outcomes and patient-reported quality of life in free flap mandibular reconstruction. Use of CSP and CAD/CAM technologies is associated with higher rates of dental implant placement in patients undergoing free flap mandibular reconstruction when compared to conventional freehand techniques.     

Characteristics and management of dental implants displaced into the maxillary sinus: a systematic review

The displacement of dental implants into the maxillary sinus is increasingly reported and may lead to serious complications. Better knowledge of this condition could help clinicians improve their practice, but it is difficult to draw conclusions from the current literature. Therefore, a systematic review was performed to describe the main characteristics of dental implant displacement, as well as its management and temporal evolution over a 31-year period. This review was conducted according to the PRISMA methodology. The PubMed/Scopus electronic databases were searched to December 2021. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools. A total of 73 articles reporting 321 patients with displaced dental implants were included. Implants located in the upper first molar site were the most frequently involved (23.7%). Displacement occurred mainly during the first 6 months after implant placement (62.6%). The majority became symptomatic (56.2%), most often due to maxillary sinusitis and/or oroantral communication (44.2%). The surgical approaches to remove displaced implants were the lateral approach (38.1%), the Caldwell–Luc approach (27.2%), and endoscopic nasal surgery (23.1%). This review highlights the importance of preventive measures: avoiding implant displacement by careful pre-implantation radiographic analysis, but also preventing infectious complications through early removal of the displaced implant (PROSPERO CRD42021279473).     

Effectiveness of different protocols to reduce postoperative pain following orthognathic surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Pain management in orthognathic surgery is essential to enhance recovery, reduce hospital stay, and improve the whole experience of the patient. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate current evidence on pain management in orthognathic surgery.A systematic review of the literature was performed following PRISMA guidelines, and PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Registry were searched to retrieve randomised clinical trials (RCTs) published until July 2020. RCTs that compared different pre-emptive analgesia and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with placebo after orthognathic surgery were included. Outcome variables were pain scores and duration of surgery. The quality of evidence was rated according to Cochrane’s tool for assessing risk of bias. Standardised mean difference (SMD) or mean difference (MD) was used to analyse continuous data. There was significant pain reduction within the first 48 hours after pre-emptive analgesia (very low quality evidence, SMD: ?1.329; confidence interval (CI): ?2.030 to ?0.628; p = 0.001) and LLLT (very low quality evidence, SMD: ?0.690; CI: ?1.172 to ?0.207; p = 0.005) versus placebo. Evidence to support pre-emptive analgesia or LLLT effectively reducing pain scores within the first postoperative 48 hours after orthognathic surgery when compared with placebo, was of low quality.     

Effect of orthodontic force on dental pulp histomorphology and tissue factor expression:: A systematic review

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effects of orthodontic force on histomorphology and tissue factor expression in the dental pulp.Materials and MethodsTwo reviewers comprehensively and systematically searched the literature in the following databases: Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences, Embase, Cochrane, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Grey literature (Google Scholar, OpenGrey, and ProQuest) up to September 2020. According to the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, Studies criteria, randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies that evaluated the effects of orthodontic force on dental pulp were included. Case series/reports, laboratory-based or animal studies, reviews, and studies that did not investigate the association between orthodontic force and pulpal changes were excluded. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Cochrane risk-of-bias tool were used to assess the risk of bias. The overall certainty level was evaluated with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation tool.Results26 observational studies and five RCTs were included. A detailed qualitative analysis of articles showed a wide range of samples and applied methodologies concerning impact of orthodontic force on the dental pulp. The application of orthodontic force seems to promote several pulpal histomorphological changes, including tissue architecture, cell pattern, angiogenesis, hard tissue deposition, inflammation, and alteration of the expression levels of 14 tissue factors.ConclusionsAlthough the included articles suggest that orthodontic forces may promote histomorphological changes in the dental pulp, due to the very low-level of evidence obtained, there could be no well-supported conclusion that these effects are actually due to orthodontic movement. Further studies with larger samples and improved methods are needed to support more robust conclusions.     

Characteristics of child dental neglect: A systematic review

Objective

Neglect of a child's oral health can lead to pain, poor growth and impaired quality of life. In populations where there is a high prevalence of dental caries, the determination of which children are experiencing dental neglect is challenging. This systematic review aims to identify the features of oral neglect in children.

Methods

Fifteen databases spanning 1947–2012 were searched; these were supplemented by hand searching of 4 specialist journals, 5 websites and references of full texts. Included: studies of children 0–18 years with confirmed oral neglect undergoing a standardised dental examination; excluded: physical/sexual abuse. All relevant studies underwent two independent reviews (+/− 3rd review) using standardised critical appraisal.

Results

Of 3863 potential studies screened, 83 studies were reviewed and 9 included (representing 1595 children). Features included: failure or delay in seeking dental treatment; failure to comply with/complete treatment; failure to provide basic oral care; co-existent adverse impact on the child e.g. pain and swelling. Two studies developed and implemented ‘dental neglect’ screening tools with success. The importance of Quality of Life tools to identify impact of neglected dental care are also highlighted.

Conclusions

A small body of literature addresses this topic, using varying definitions of neglect, and standards of oral examination. While failure/delay in seeking care with adverse dental consequences were highlighted, differentiating dental caries from dental neglect is difficult, and there is a paucity of data on precise clinical features to aid in this distinction.

Clinical significance

Diagnosing dental neglect can be challenging, influencing a reluctance to report cases. Published evidence does exist to support these referrals when conditions as above are described, although further quality case control studies defining distinguishing patterns of dental caries would be welcome.     

Peri-Implant bone response around porous-surface dental implants: A preclinical meta-analysis

IntroductionThis meta-analysis of relevant animal studies was conducted to assess whether the use of porous-surface implants improves osseointegration compared to the use of non-porous-surface implants.Material and methodsAn electronic search of PubMed (MEDLINE) resulted in the selection of ten animal studies (out of 865 publications) for characterization and quality assessment. Risk of bias assessment indicated poor reporting for the majority of studies. The results for bone-implant contact (BIC%) and peri-implant bone formation (BF%) were extracted from the eligible studies and used for the meta-analysis. Data for porous-surface implants were compared to those for non-porous-surface implants, which were considered as the controls.ResultsThe random-effects meta-analysis showed that the use of porous-surface implants did not significantly increase overall BIC% (mean difference or MD: 3.63%; 95% confidence interval or 95% CI: −1.66 to 8.91; p = 0.18), whereas it significantly increased overall BF% (MD: 5.43%; CI: 2.20 to 8.67; p = 0.001), as compared to the controls.ConclusionPorous-surface implants promote osseointegration with increase in BF%. However, their use shows no significant effect on BIC%. Further preclinical and clinical investigations are required to find conclusive evidence on the effect of porous-surface implants.     

Osseointegration of zirconia dental implants in animal investigations: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

To determine the osseointegration rate of zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) dental implants in preclinical investigations.

Immediate nonfunctional versus immediate functional loading and dental implant failure rates: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives

The purpose of the present review was to test the null hypothesis of no difference in the implant failure rates, postoperative infection, and marginal bone loss for patients being rehabilitated using dental implants with immediate nonfunctional loading (INFL) compared to immediate functional loading (IFL), against the alternative hypothesis of a difference.

Methods

An electronic search without time or language restrictions was undertaken in March 2014. Eligibility criteria included clinical human studies, either randomized or not. The estimates of relative effect were expressed in risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) in millimeters.

Results

1059 studies were identified and 11 studies were included, of which 7 were of high risk of bias, whereas four studies were of low risk of bias. The results showed that the procedure used (nonfunctional vs. functional) did not significantly affect the implant failure rates (P = 0.70), with a RR of 0.87 (95% CI 0.44–1.75). The wide CI demonstrates uncertainty about the effect size. The analysis of postoperative infection was not possible due to lack of data. No apparent significant effects of non-occlusal loading on the marginal bone loss (MD 0.01 mm, 95% CI -0.04–0.06; P = 0.74) were observed.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that the differences in occlusal loading between INFL and IFL might not affect the survival of these dental implants and that there is no apparent significant effect on the marginal bone loss.Clinical Significance: There has been a controversy concerning whether dental implants should be subjected to immediate functional or nonfunctional loading. As the philosophies of treatment may alter over time, a periodic review of the different concepts is necessary to refine techniques and eliminate unnecessary procedures. This would form a basis for optimum treatment.