Implantoplasty Improves Clinical Parameters over a 2-Year Follow-Up: A Case Series

Background and Objectives: Peri-implantitis treatment is still undefined. Regenerative treatment is expensive and technically demanding due to the need to handle biomaterials, membranes and different methodologies of decontamination. Resective treatment and implantoplasty might be a viable solution. This case series presents a 24 month retrospective observational study of 10 peri-implantitis patients treated with implantoplasty. Materials and Methods: In the present case series, 10 peri-implantitis patients (20 implants) were treated with a resective approach and implantoplasty. Previous to implantoplasty, all patients underwent non-surgical treatment. This surgery consisted in a full-thickness flap and implant surface exposure. The exposed non-osseointegrated implant body was submitted to implantoplasty. The flap was apically repositioned and sutured. Patients were accompanied for 24 months. Results: The mean initial probing depth (PD) (PD = 5.37 ± 0.86 mm), bleeding on probing (BoP = 0.12 ± 0.06%) and suppuration (Sup = 0.01 ± 0.01%) decreased significantly at the 12 month evaluation (PD = 2.90 ± 0.39 mm; BoP = 0.01 ± 0.01% and Sup = 0.00 ± 0.00%). Between the 12 and 24 month evaluations, there were no significant clinical changes (PD = 2.85 ± 0.45 mm; BoP = 0.01 ± 0.01% and Sup = 0.00 ± 0.00%). Mucosal recession (MR) had a significant increase between the baseline and the first 12 months (0.69 ± 0.99 mm vs. 1.96 ± 1.33 mm), but there were no significant changes between the 12th and 24th month (1.94 ± 1.48 mm). The success rate was 100% without implant fracture or loss. Conclusions: Resective surgery and implantoplasty might be a valid option in some specific peri-implantitis cases. Properly designed clinical trials are needed to confirm this possibility.

Effect of laser-microtexturing on bone and soft tissue attachments to dental implants: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background. It is critical to understand laser-microtextured implant collars’ influence on peri-implant pocket depths and marginal bone levels, especially in crucial areas. The present review investigated the peri-implant marginal bone loss (MBL) and pocket depths and failure rates of dental implants with laser-microtextured collars. Methods. An electronic search was run in the PubMed and Embase databases until September 15, 2019. Randomized and prospective clinical studies comparing peri-implant MBL and pocket depths and failure rates between implants with laser-microtextured and machined collar surfaces were included. Five studies (two cohort studies and three RCTs) were included in the meta-analysis after the inclusion and exclusion criteria and qualitative assessments were applied. The risk ratio of osseointegrated implant failure and mean differences in peri-implant MBL and pocket depths were calculated using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software. Results. Implants with laser-microtextured collars exhibited significantly better marginal bone level scores (P<0.001; MD: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.489‒0.592) and a significant reduction in peri-implant probing depths than implants with machined collars (P<0.001; MD: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.90‒1.13). The assessed studies showed that 17 out of 516 implants failed (3.29%), comprising nine implants with machined (3.62%) and eight implants with laser-microtextured collars (2.98%). However, no significant differences were detected in the implant neck surface characterization (P=0.695; RR: 1.205; 95% CI: 0.472‒3.076). Conclusion. This study suggests that laser-microtexturing of implant collar significantly affected the peri-implant MBL and probing depths. Although no significant differences were noted in implant failure rates between implants with laser-microtextured and machined collar surfaces, the peri-implant MBL and probing depths with laser-microtextured collars were significantly lower than the machined collars.

Thermal Effects during Bone Preparation and Insertion of Osseointegrated Transfemoral Implants

Background: The preparation of bone for the insertion of an osseointegrated transfemoral implant and the insertion process are performed at very low speeds in order to avoid thermal damages to bone tissue which may potentially jeopardize implant stability. The aim of this study was to quantify the temperature increase in the femur at different sites and insertion depths, relative to the final implant position during the stepwise implantation procedure. Methods: The procedure for installation of the osseointegrated implant was performed on 24 femoral specimens. In one specimen of each pair, the surgery was performed at the clinically practiced speed, while the speed was doubled in the contralateral specimen. Six 0.075 mm K fine gauge thermocouples (RS Components, Sorby, UK) were inserted into the specimen at a distance of 0.5 mm from the final implant surface, and six were inserted at a distance of 1.0 mm. Results: Drilling caused a temperature increase of <2.5 °C and was not statistically significantly different for most drill sizes (0.002 < p < 0.845). The mean increase in temperature during thread tapping and implant insertion was <5.0 °C, whereas the speed had an effect on the temperature increase during thread tapping. Conclusions: Drilling is the most time-consuming part of the surgery. Doubling the clinically practiced speed did not generate more heat during this step, suggesting the speed and thus the time- and cost-effectiveness of the procedure could be increased. The frequent withdrawal of the instruments and removal of the bone chips is beneficial to prevent temperature peaks, especially during thread tapping.