Oral endosseous implants are successful even longterm in the edentulous jaws. After insertion implants osseointegrate. This process is characterized by the development of an intimate bone contact with the implant surface. The direct anchoring of bone to the implant predicts the...

Some patients present with soft and hard tissue defects that cannot be addressed by a fixed implant prosthesis when esthetics, phonetics and oral hygiene access are considered. In these patients who have struggled...

The All-on-4® treatment concept can be combined with a guided surgical protocol. Looking back on experiences with these techniques since 2005, Dr Lopes reviews the advantages of these protocols for patient and surgeon, such as comfort, reduced surgery time and increased...

Conceptually, a provisional prosthesis for an edentulous patient is a convenient tool that offers the patient a satisfactory level of function and esthetic appearance while definitive treatment is undertaken...

Treatment planning for the edentulous patient requires a diagnostic tooth arrangement which provides valuable information for pre-surgical planning (surgical guide fabrication), facilitates discussion regarding...

The primary goal of creating a preliminary teeth arrangement for a try-in diagnostic evaluation is the opportunity to visualize those specific morphological features that impact functional and esthetic considerations for each treated patient...

Tomography represents 2-D images of a slice through an object. Computerized tomography (CT) can produce virtual slices and conventional CTs take slice by slice and the machine stops and moves in between slices. Spiral/helical CTs are continuous scans in a...

Radiation source collimated at its source and then di­verges into a fan shape to reach detectors. This results in a cone beam.
Pixel (picture + element) is the smallest single component of a 2-D image, whereas a voxel is the small­est element...

When obtaining a panoramic film, one must be aware of the importance of following proper technique and carefully positioning the patient's skull between the X-ray generator and the film. Rotation of the film and radiation source often occurs along a...

Because any form or radiation can impose a risk, patient history and clinical examination should be performed first to ensure that the right kind of imaging is sought and unhelpful imaging is avoided.
The four main types of imaging tools utilized, and...

Epithelial desquamation in the oropharynx limits bacterial accumulation, except on the tongue dorsum and in the tonsillar crypts. Loss of teeth dramatically reduces the load of periodontal pathogens except for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and to a...

Relevant risk factors for implant treatment:

• Children and adolescents (during ongoing bone/skeletal development), unless in selected anodontia patients. However, implant placement for orthodontic treatment purposes is indicated.
• Uncontrolled metabolic diseases such as Diabetes Mellit...

Radiotherapy

Rehabilitation of patients with oral cancers is usually done in a combined way with surgical, chemo- and radio-therapy. Radiotherapy predisposes to fibrotization, ischemia and xerostomia. The latter side-effect renders mucosally supported dentures even more difficult to...

A critical side effect in the oro-maxillo-facial region observed in patients undergoing administration over a long period of time and especially intravenously, bisphosphonate therapy may predispose to ‘bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the...

Parafunctional activities can apply high forces to both implant and prosthetic components. These forces can lead to fracture or loosening of screws and abutments, chipping of the veneering material or fracture of the prosthetic reconstruction...