Application of 3D printing and its various technologies in dentistry

Many applications for these technologies have been reported in multiple fields, including dentistry, within the last three decades. It can be used in periodontology, endodontics, orthodontics, oral implantology, maxillofacial and oral surgery, and prosthodontics. In the present literature review, we have discussed the different clinical applications of various 3D printing technologies in dentistry. Evidence indicates that 3D printing approaches are usually associated with favorable outcomes based on the continuous development and production of novel approaches, enabling clinicians to develop complex equipment in different clinical and surgical aspects. Developing work models to facilitate diagnostic and surgical settings is the commonest application of these modalities in dentistry. Besides, they can also be used to manufacture various implantable devices. Accordingly, they significantly help enhance the treatment process, reducing costs and less invasive procedures with favorable outcomes. Finally, 3D printing technologies can design complex devices in a facilitated and more accurate way than conventional methods. Therefore, 3D printing should be encouraged in clinical settings for its various advantages over conventional maneuvers.

Multi-Modal Oral Implantology. The Screw-Blade Single-Implant for the Replacement of the Upper Molar: A Case Report

Intense forces are naturally downloading on molar roots. Due to inflammation, the post-extraction sockets of the upper molars are often poor of bone on one side. A single implant supporting a prosthetic crown can easily go subject to displacing forces that reabsorbed and recently healed bone can hardly bear. By utilizing a couple of prosthetic roots, i.e.: one screw implant in the side in which bone is richer and one blade implant in the side in which the bony wall has gone subject to reabsorption, it is possible to build a better supported prosthetic crown. The clinical cases performed by the Authors confirm the validity of this implant architecture. Aim of the work is to describe a post-extraction multi-modal implantological technique useful for replacing the roots of upper molars with poor bone support on one side. Materials and Methods: Combination of submerged screw implant and submerged blade implant or emergent screw implant and emergent blade implant welded intraorally. Discussion: The combination of a palatal screw implant and a buccal blade implant, or vice versa, allowed to solve clinical cases and to make reliable prosthetic crowns. Conclusions: The presence of variable residual anatomies in the molar area of the upper jaw recommends the use of morphologically different implant shapes, suitable for the construction of a biomechanically functional prosthetic abutment. Specifically in the presence of bone resorption, the combination of a screw implant and a blade implant allowed us to obtain a reliable abutment. Given the small number of cases performed, further research will confirm the positive results of this technique.

The Importance of The Dental Hygienist in Implantology: A Narrative Review

Dental implants have become a standard treatment in the replacement of missing teeth. If maintaining good oral health in a mouth without prosthetic elements requires proper self oral hygiene and professional maintenance, preserving implant health requires even more accuracy and consistency. Dental hygienists are fundamental in the management of the bacterial biofilm, in the context of prevention, education and professional treatment of the patient. This review explores the importance and the role of the dental hygienist in oral implantology.

CSBD Healing in Rats after Application of Bovine Xenogeneic Biomaterial Enriched with Magnesium Alloy

Xenogeneic biomaterials Cerbone® and OsteoBiol® are widely used in oral implantology. In dental practice, xenogeneic biomaterial is usually combined with autologous bone to provide bone volume stability needed for long-term dental implants. Magnesium alloy implants dissolve and form mineral corrosion layer that is directly in contact with bone tissue, allowing deposition of the newly formed bone. CSBD heals by intramembranous ossification and therefore is a convenient model for analyses of ostoconductive and osteoinductive properties of different type of biomaterials. Magnesium alloy-enriched biomaterials have not yet been applied in oral implantology. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate biological properties of potentially new bovine xenogeneic biomaterial enriched with magnesium alloy in a 5 mm CSBD model. Osteoconductive properties of Cerabone®, Cerabone® + Al. bone, and OsteoBiol® were also analyzed. Dynamics of bone healing was followed up on the days 3, 7, 15, 21, and 30. Calvary bone samples were analyzed by micro-CT, and values of the bone morphometric parameters were assessed. Bone samples were further processed for histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Histological observation revealed CSBD closure at day 30 of the given xenogeneic biomaterial groups, with the exception of the control group. TNF-α showed high intensity of expression at the sites of MSC clusters that underwent ossification. Osx was expressed in pre-osteoblasts, which were differentiated into mature osteoblasts and osteocytes. Results of the micro-CT analyses showed linear increase in bone volume of all xenogeneic biomaterial groups and also in the control. The highest average values of bone volume were found for the Cerabone® + Mg group. In addition, less residual biomaterial was estimated in the Cerabone® + Mg group than in the Cerabone® group, indicating its better biodegradation during CSBD healing. Overall, the magnesium alloy xenogeneic biomaterial demonstrated key properties of osteoinduction and biodegradidibility during CSBD healing, which is the reason why it should be recommended for application in clinical practice of oral implantology.

Bacterial Colonization on Different Suture Materials Used in Oral Implantology: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the colonization of Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolated from the oral cavity on different suture materials used in oral implantology. Materials and Methods: Patients scheduled for implant surgery were included in this study. After flap approximation, the surgical site was sutured using silk, nylon, polyglactin 910 (Vicryl®) and triclosan-coated polyglactin 910 (Vicryl® Plus) sutures in a randomized order. Seven days after surgery, the sutures were removed and incubated in bile esculin agar (for E. faecalis), MacConkey agar (for E. coli), mitis salivarius agar (for S. mutans), and mannitol salt agar (for S. aureus) at 37°C for 24 h. The colonies were then counted. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Vicryl® sutures showed the highest accumulation of E. faecalis, followed by Vicryl® Plus, nylon, and silk. There was no significant difference between nylon and silk (P=0.5) or between Vicryl® and Vicryl® Plus (P=0.4). Vicryl® Plus sutures showed the highest accumulation of E. coli followed by Vicryl®, silk and nylon (P<0.01). Vicryl® sutures showed the highest accumulation of S. mutans, followed by Vicryl® Plus, silk, and nylon. Vicryl® Plus sutures showed the highest accumulation of S. aureus, followed by Vicryl®, nylon, and silk. Conclusion: Nylon sutures showed the least microbial accumulation. Vicryl® and triclosan-coated Vicryl® Plus sutures had no advantage over the commonly used silk sutures in decreasing the number of bacteria.

A Review of 3D Printing in Dentistry: Technologies, Affecting Factors, and Applications

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies are advanced manufacturing technologies based on computer-aided design digital models to create personalized 3D objects automatically. They have been widely used in the industry, design, engineering, and manufacturing fields for nearly 30 years. Three-dimensional printing has many advantages in process engineering, with applications in dentistry ranging from the field of prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and oral implantology to orthodontics, endodontics, and periodontology. This review provides a practical and scientific overview of 3D printing technologies. First, it introduces current 3D printing technologies, including powder bed fusion, photopolymerization molding, and fused deposition modeling. Additionally, it introduces various factors affecting 3D printing metrics, such as mechanical properties and accuracy. The final section presents a summary of the clinical applications of 3D printing in dentistry, including manufacturing working models and main applications in the fields of prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and oral implantology. The 3D printing technologies have the advantages of high material utilization and the ability to manufacture a single complex geometry; nevertheless, they have the disadvantages of high cost and time-consuming postprocessing. The development of new materials and technologies will be the future trend of 3D printing in dentistry, and there is no denying that 3D printing will have a bright future.

Titanium Functionalized with Polylysine Homopolymers: In Vitro Enhancement of Cells Growth

In oral implantology, the success and persistence of dental implants over time are guaranteed by the bone formation around the implant fixture and by the integrity of the peri-implant mucosa seal, which adheres to the abutment and becomes a barrier that hinders bacterial penetration and colonization close to the outer parts of the implant. Research is constantly engaged in looking for substances to coat the titanium surface that guarantees the formation and persistence of the peri-implant bone, as well as the integrity of the mucous perimeter surrounding the implant crown. The present study aimed to evaluate in vitro the effects of a titanium surface coated with polylysine homopolymers on the cell growth of dental pulp stem cells and keratinocytes to establish the potential clinical application. The results reported an increase in cell growth for both cellular types cultured with polylysine-coated titanium compared to cultures without titanium and those without coating. These preliminary data suggest the usefulness of polylysine coating not only for enhancing osteoinduction but also to speed the post-surgery mucosal healings, guarantee appropriate peri-implant epithelial seals, and protect the fixture against bacterial penetration, which is responsible for compromising the implant survival.

Dental Applications of Systems Based on Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles—An Evidence-Based Update

Hydroxyapatite is one of the most studied biomaterials in the medical and dental field, because of its biocompatibility; it is the main constituent of the mineral part of teeth and bones. In dental science, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAnps) or nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HA) have been studied, over the last decade, in terms of oral implantology and bone reconstruction, as well in restorative and preventive dentistry. Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles have significant remineralizing effects on initial enamel lesions, and they have also been used as an additive material in order to improve existing and widely used dental materials, mainly in preventive fields, but also in restorative and regenerative fields. This paper investigates the role of HAnps in dentistry, including recent advances in the field of its use, as well as their advantages of using it as a component in other dental materials, whether experimental or commercially available. Based on the literature, HAnps have outstanding physical, chemical, mechanical and biological properties that make them suitable for multiple interventions, in different domains of dental science. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials should be conducted in order to confirm all the achievements revealed by the in vitro or in vivo studies published until now.

SHORT IMPLANT’S: TREATMENT OPTION FOR ATROPHIC RIDGE IN ORAL IMPLANTOLOGY: A REVIEW

Implant dentistry has seen rapid progress in recent years leading to its application as standard treatment modalities. While selecting treatment plan, bone mapping and selection of implant is very essential for a successful implant practice. In case of an atrophic ridge where bone height is less, then selection of short implant could be a good treatment alternative, as it is a conservative treatment option because it prevents the need of sinus lift, alveolar nerve repositioning, and bone grafting. This article will discuss about how? when to use short implants along with their advantages, disadvantages of short implants in details.