Bilhan H, et al. J Adv Prosthodont. 2012 May;4(2):109-115. http://dx.doi.org/10.4047/jap.2012.4.2.109

The aim of this clinical trial was to assess satisfaction, as well as the frequency and type of prosthetic complications in terms of several variables, in patients with complete dentures that had been supplied at private clinics. The study subjects were 64 patients with a mean age of 63.48 years wearing complete dentures provided at private clinics, and requesting new ones. The degree of patient satisfaction with their dentures was assessed, as well as complications and parameters related to the dentures such as the accuracy of vertical dimensions and centric relation, arrangement and possible malposition of the artificial teeth, and the border length of the denture bases. The most common complication was loss of retention (85.9%), followed by ulceration (44.2%). Mandibular dentures with long vestibular borders showed a significantly higher incidence of epulis fissuratum (P = 0.017), and denture-related sore spots influenced patients’ speech ability (P = 0.023). Routine recalls seem to be important for wearers of complete dentures, as several insidious complications may develop and cause damage to the dentures as well as the patients’ oral tissues. (J Oral Sci 55, 29-37, 2013)

Purpose: To analyze the prognostic factors that are associated with the success, survival, and failure rates of dental implants. Material and Methods: Data including implant sizes, insertion time, implant location, and prosthetic treatment of 1656 implants have been collected, and the association of these factors with success, survival, and failure of implants was analyzed. Results: The success rate was lower for short and maxillary implants. The failure rate of maxillary implants exceeded that of mandibular implants, and the failure rate of implants that were placed in the maxillary anterior region was significantly higher than other regions. The failure rates of implants that were placed 5 years ago or more were higher than those that were placed later. Conclusions: Anterior maxilla is more critical for implant loss than other sites. Implants in the anterior mandible show better success compared with other locations, and longer implants show better success rates. The learning curve of the clinician influences survival and success rates of dental implants.

Pinar Eren T?rk, PhD, DDS/Onur Geckili, PhD, DDS/Yasin T?rk, PhD, DDS/Volkan G?nay, PhD/Tayfun Bilgin, PhD, DDS: Purpose: To compare the retentive properties of ball and locator attachments during 5,000 insertion-separation cycles, corresponding to approximately 4.5 years of clinical use. Materials and Methods: Four dental implants (diameter, 3.8 mm; length, 12 mm) were inserted into the prepared beds of two polyethylene blocks. Twenty acrylic prosthetic components were fabricated and connected to the ball and locator abutments. Tensile force was applied to the prosthetic components until the attachments were separated from the abutments. All samples were subjected to 5,000 insertion-separation cycles. Retention forces were measured after 10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000 insertion-separation cycles. Additionally, the wear of the attachments was measured using scanning electron microscopy. Data were analyzed to determine statistical equivalence among the two different attachments using the Student t test procedure and the Mann-Whitney U test procedure (α = .05). Results: Ball attachments showed significant retention loss after 100, 200, 400, 500, 1,500, and 4,000 cycles, and the locator attachments showed significant retention loss after 100, 200, 300, 500, and 3,000 cycles as compared with the previous cycle (P < .05). Retention loss after 5,000 cycles was detected significantly more often for ball attachments than for locator attachments (P = .049). No significant difference was detected between the retention losses of the two attachment systems during the other cycles as compared with the initial retention values (P > .05). No significant difference was detected between the wear on the two attachment systems after 5,000 cycles (P > .05). Conclusion: Both attachment systems showed decreased retentive forces after 5,000 insertion-separation cycles. However, after 5,000 insertion-separation cycles, locator attachments showed better retentive properties than ball attachments.