Titanium is a commonly used inert bio-implant material within the medical and dental fields. Although the use of titanium is thought to be safe with a high success rate, in some cases, there are rare reports of problems caused by titanium. In most of these problematic reports, only individual reports are dominant and comprehensive reporting has not been performed. This comprehensive article has been prepared to review the toxicity of titanium materials within the medical and dental fields. We used online searching tools including MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar by combining keywords such as “titanium implant toxicity,” “titanium implant corrosion,” “titanium implant allergy,” and “yellow nail syndrome.” Recently updated data has been collected and compiled into one of four categories: “the toxicity of titanium,” “the toxicity of titanium alloys,” “the toxicity of titanium implants,” and “diseases related to titanium.” Recent studies with regard to titanium toxicity have been increasing and have now expanded to the medical field in addition to the fields of environmental research and basic science. Problems that may arise in titanium-based dental implants include the generation of titanium and titanium alloy particles and ions deposited into surrounding tissues due to the corrosion and wear of implants, resulting in bone loss due to inflammatory reactions, which may lead to osseointegration failure of the dental implant. These titanium ions and particles are systemically deposited and can lead to toxic reactions in other tissues such as yellow nail syndrome. Additionally, implant failure and allergic reactions can occur due to hypersensitivity reactions. Zirconia implants can be considered as an alternative; however, limitations still exist due to a lack of long-term clinical data. Clinicians should pay attention to the use of titanium dental implants and need to be aware of the problems that may arise from the use of titanium implants and should be able to diagnose them, in spite of very rare occurrence. Within the limitation of this study, it was suggested that we should be aware the rare problems of titanium toxicity.

Truc Thi Hoang Nguyen, Buyanbileg Sodnom-Ish, Sung Weon Choi, Hyo-Il Jung, Jaewook Cho, Inseong Hwang, Soung Min Kim. JKAOMS 2020;46:301-12. https://doi.org/10.5125/jkaoms.2020.46.5.301

Rehabilitating severely atrophic alveolar crests remains challenging for implantologists and maxillofacial surgeons. Recently, a combination of augmentation and dental implantation has been used to treat cases with severe bone atrophy in the maxilla and mandible. Among autogenous bone grafts, iliac bone grafting (IBG) is considered safe for collecting large amounts of bone and obtaining high-density multipotent cells. However, vertical bone resorption may occur during the initial healing stage after IBG. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate bone graft success and implant survival rate, along with bone height in the augmented site and marginal bone level around dental implants placed in iliac onlay bone grafts. We also introduce technique and treatment considerations for successful IBG procedures, as well as optimal implant installation strategy and soft tissue manipulation. We examined seven patients who were treated with IBG combined with implant systems over a period of 10 years. The long-term success rate of bone grafts and implant survival rate were recorded. Bone height change and marginal bone loss (MBL) were analyzed by assessing the radiograms acquired after augmentation, at implant installation, prosthetic loading, and after installation 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and 5 years. In a mean observation period of 50 months (range 12–62 months), the success rate of IBG was 100%. A total of 29 implants were installed and the implant success rate was 100%. The mean bone height reductions compared to post-augmentation bone heights were 1.33 ± 0.81 mm after 3 months, 2.00 ± 1.88 mm at implant installation, 2.55 ± 1.68 mm at prosthetic loading, and 3.05 ± 1.63 mm after implant installation 1 year. The cumulative bone height change after implant installation 5 years was 4.05 ± 1.83 mm which corresponds to a mean resorption rate of 42.5%. The mean MBL after installation 3 months, at prosthetic loading, and after installation 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and 5 years follow-ups were significantly higher than at implant installation. However, MBL at 2 years, 3 years, and 5 years post-installation did not differ significantly (p < 0.05). In patients with atrophic jaws, a combination of the iliac onlay bone graft and dental implants can result in satisfactory reconstruction and reliable long-term prognosis. Despite early stage vertical bone resorption, we observed high success rates and comparable MBL over long-term follow-up. To reduce bone resorption, case evaluation and surgical planning must be meticulous. Further large-scale studies with longer-term follow-up are needed.

Background: Silicone-based facial prostheses have traditionally been considered difficult to make and require time-consuming fabrication due to their basic liquid characteristics. Methods and results: A detailed procedure for creating an ideal silicone orbital prosthesis was developed, including dental implant-supported retention, three-dimensional (3D) orbital scanning with symmetric volume and size measurement based on matching the opposite side, master mold fabrication for convenient pouring of the liquid silicone elastomer, and easy and comfortable management of the prosthesis by the patient. Conclusion: A silicone orbital prosthesis could be more easily and conveniently produced using updated surgical skills and modern 3D technology. The combination of 3D scanning with digital reconstruction and an innovative fabrication protocol using a reproducible major mold and multiple prototypes fitting resulted in an accuracy personalized facial prosthesis with accessible cost and short production period.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis during early childhood may lead to disturbances in growth and facial asymmetry and to serious difficulties in eating as well as in breathing during sleep. The purpose of this study is to describe the effectiveness of an interocclusal splint (IOS) for active mouth opening exercises in the treatment of TMJ ankylosis. A total of nine patients with 13 instances of TMJ ankylosis from 2008 to 2010 were included in this study, of which five patients were male and four patients were female. Five patients demonstrated unilateral ankylosis, while five patients showed bilateral symptoms. Ankylosed mass resection with coronoidectomy, fibrotic scar release, and resection of stylohyoid ligament calcification was performed with gap arthroplasty without an interpositional graft, and all patients were assessed for maximum mouth opening (MMO) during a mean 6.6-year follow-up period. All patients were subjected to postoperative mouth opening exercises from the day of the operation with the help of an IOS, which was based on an impression taken during surgery. All patients were sufficiently comfortable moving their mandible according to the IOS’s guiding plane and impingement, and satisfactory results were achieved, in which MMO was improved by 35 mm more than 6 years after surgery. Complete and adequate resection of the ankylosed mass and postoperative active mouth opening exercises are essential in the treatment of TMJ ankylosis. Moreover, a more comfortable mouth opening guide and interdigitation can be achieved using an IOS, and newly organized fibrosis in the gap space between the newly made resected condylar head and temporal fossa can be suggested.

Background: To restore the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients who underwent jaw resection and reconstruction surgery, dental rehabilitation is an essential procedure and also one of the most challenging for oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Even though recent studies have reported the possibility and reliability of dental implant rehabilitation with the fibula free flap (FFF), clinical reports of long-term follow-up cases are scarce. We herein reported seven cases of FFF reconstruction and implant rehabilitation. We also discussed implant planning strategy and surgical techniques. Methods: From 2012 to 2019, seven patients were treated with FFF reconstructive jaw surgery combined with dental implant installation and fabrication of implant-supported prostheses at Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Patient characteristics and FFF treatment results were collected. Records of dental implants were analyzed clinically and radiologically. Results: Among the seven patients in this report, there were three males and four females, with an average age of 54.4 years. A total of 39 implants were placed in the fibular bone. The mean follow-up period after implant installation was 24 months. Five implants failed and were removed 3 months after installation. The implant success rate was 87.2%. Marginal bone loss at 12 months after loading was 0.23 ± 0.18 mm on the mesial side and 0.25 ± 0.26 mm on the distal side. Conclusion: With the challenges present in FFF-reconstructed patients, an implant-supported prosthesis is a reliable option for stable and functional oral rehabilitation. The implant-supported prosthesis on the FFF has great results regarding restoration of function (mastication, swallowing, and speaking), appearance, and overall HRQoL. Collaboration between surgeons and prosthodontists is essential for a satisfying outcome.