Archive for August, 2006

  • Best Block Graft Technique?

    How can I best avoid traumatizing the mental nerve? My flap will be extending to the mental nerve area. What is the best technique for doing this kind of graft?

      Read More and Comment  | 30 Comments »
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  • Numbness After Implants

    I had dental implants last year for missing teeth. Within hours of the placement of mandibular dental implants, I developed profound numbness on the right half of lower lip.

      Read More and Comment  | 57 Comments »
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  • BioHorizons Gets Acquired

    Last week, HealthpointCapital, LLC (“HealthpointCapital”) announced the purchase of BioHorizons Implant Systems, Inc. (“BioHorizons” or “Company”). BioHorizons designs, produces and distributes oral reconstructive devices including dental implants and tissue regeneration products. BioHorizons, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is one of the fastest-growing companies in the dental industry. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

    “The dental implant […]

      Read More and Comment  | 2 Comments »
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  • Bridge on Narrow Platform Implants?

    Mitchell, a dentist, ask us: I have a patient with a severely atrophic mandible. I planned to have 6 regular platform dental implants placed to support a bridge.

    Even with a CT scan we could only get 5 narrow platform dental implants
    (3.25/10) in the mandibular anterior. Most of the bone is cortical. Do
    you still think […]

      Read More and Comment  | 4 Comments »
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  • Immediate Loading in the Anterior Aesthetic Zone?

    I have discussed a number of dental implant cases where I want to do a one-piece, single stage, immediate provisionalization at the time of tooth extaction in the anterior aesthetic zone.

      Read More and Comment  | 10 Comments »
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  • Free-Standing Implants To Retain Overdentures?

    Larry, a dentist, asks us:
    I am hearing more and more about using free-standing implants to retain
    overdentures both in the maxilla and mandible. In the mandible, two
    dental implants in the canine areas appears to be the most frequent design. In
    the maxilla four dental implants in the canine and second premolar areas
    appears to be the most frequent […]

      Read More and Comment  | 14 Comments »
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  • HA Coated Dental Implants

    Dr. Nimchuk asks:
    HA coatings on dental implants have been shown to accelerate surface bone apposition, thereby shortening the waiting period for dental implant restoration.

    We also know the HA surface degrades and in some instances separates, so the trend has been to substitute coatings with roughened surface dental implants, which incidentally also show better and […]

      Read More and Comment  | 4 Comments »
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  • Locator Attachments or a Bar?

    Charles, a dentist asks us:
    I have a patient who had four 4×10mm dental implants placed in her mandibular anterior.  I was planning on doing Locators and making an overdenture. 

    The gingival connective tissue over the dental implants is very dense and
    thick.  From the implant platform to the highest point on the
    surrounding gingival is 4mm […]

      Read More and Comment  | 14 Comments »
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  • Dental Implant Maintenance

    Dan, a dentist, asks:
    I am having a hard time getting my dental implant patients to return for regularly scheduled routine maintenance of their implants. 

    Most of my dental implant patients are wearing a complete maxillary denture
    and a mandibular implant retained overdenture.  I charge them the same
    fee that I charge for a routine prophy.  I […]

      Read More and Comment  | 2 Comments »
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  • Ideal Number of Dental Implants

    I am a 49-year-old male from the UK and suffering from advanced gum
    disease. I have a few teeth left but they are extremely mobile and they will
    have to be extracted.

      Read More and Comment  | 5 Comments »
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  • Patent Awarded For Tooth Replacement Technique

    The United States Patent Office has issued a patent to Dr. Todd E. Shatkin, an Amherst dentist affiliated with the Aesthetics Associates Centre.

      Read More and Comment  | 2 Comments »
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  • Bridge or Implant?

    I recently went to a top dentist in New York and asked him to make me a bridge. He told me that in this day and age it as absolutely ridiculous to have a bridge, and to shave down a healthy tooth when one can have a dental implant. However, I worry about the long term health ramifications of implants, i.e. the metal in the body, complications, etc.

      Read More and Comment  | 120 Comments »
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  • Maxillary Canine Implant

    Dr. Reno, a dentist, asks:To replace a maxillary canine, I create a progressive anterior disclussion involving the maxillary lateral incisor and first premolar prior to the fabrication of the crown for the canine. 

    This enables the technician to build the maxillary canine crown into a pre-determined progressive anterior disclussion.  If I cannot use the lateral […]

      Read More and Comment  | 8 Comments »
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  • Immediate Loading: The Gold Standard?

    It seems like immediate loading is becoming the gold standard in dental implant placement and restoration.

      Read More and Comment  | 9 Comments »
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  • NobelDirect On Hold?

    Any thoughts on Nobel´s recently announced decision to put promotional material for NobelDirect on hold for 60 days?

    Last week, Nobel stated that it sent a letter to the Swedish Medical Product Agency (SMPA) proposing steps towards a constructive dialogue and informed  the SMPA, that it decided to put promotional material for NobelDirect voluntarily for […]

      Read More and Comment  | 1 Comment »
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  • Is Straumann Slowing Down?

    Last week Straumann´s stock fell more than 10%, the most in almost 10 months, after
    the company’s second-quarter profit and sales rose less than
    Wall Street analysts expected and the company lowered its full-year outlook.

    Naturally Straumann remained upbeat about its prospects, including SLActive, Straumann´s third-generation surface technology. The company did, however, state that it "continues to absorb […]

      Read More and Comment  | 5 Comments »
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  • Materialise´s Simplant Set To Expand?

    Materialise is sure making waves. First there was a recent lawsuit against Nobel, and just about a week ago the company announced that Dentsply acquired a forty percent interest in Materialise Dental N.V., in a cash transaction of 20 million euros. The deal also paves the way for Dentsply to possibly acquire all of Materialise […]

      Read More and Comment  | 6 Comments »
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  • Flapless Implant Surgery

    Would flapless implant placement increase the acceptance of dental implant treatment plans with my patients? What are the pros and cons here?

      Read More and Comment  | 46 Comments »
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  • Implant Anchorage for Orthodontics

    Dr. Crenshaw asks us:
    I am a general dentist just getting into placing dental implants. I
    have been restoring cases for about five years.  I do a lot of
    orthodontic therapy on children and I am intrigued by the use of
    implants as anchors for orthodontics instead of having to band or
    bracket many teeth.

    I have seen some demonstrations […]

      Read More and Comment  | 1 Comment »
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  • Worried About Bone Graft

    I am getting two dental implants soon. Tooth # 29 has to be extracted, and tooth # 30 has been missing for many years. The dentist told me that I would need a bone graft done in # 30.

      Read More and Comment  | 29 Comments »
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  • ADA Comments on Oral Bisphosphonates

    In this month´s JADA, the ADA finally chimed in with their guidelines for patients who are on oral bisphosphonates.

    Specifically, the ADA stated:
    "Relying on a small but growing number of reports linking
    bisphosphonate drugs to incidences of osteonecrosis of the jaw (dead
    bone tissue), a panel of experts convened by the ADA believes dental
    patients who are taking oral […]

      Read More and Comment  | 1 Comment »
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  • Dental Implants for Diabetics?

    Dr. Fuchs asks us:I recently had a diabetic patient come in for a dental implant consultation.

    I´m wondering if some of you can update me on the latest research concerning dental implant placement in diabetics. Some studies suggest that most diabetics who lack good glycemic control are unable to receive dental implants due to the […]

      Read More and Comment  | 11 Comments »
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  • Radiolucencies Around The Implant

    I have a question regarding a lower arch oral rehabilitation case that I have done 1 year ago. The patient had severe peridontally involved teeth which were all removed to be replaced with 5 dental implants.

      Read More and Comment  | 34 Comments »
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  • Zirconium Implants

    Dr. Johnson asks:Can you please give your opinion on the newer zirconium dental implants that
    are being developed for use in the US? I believe Nobel Biocare is
    currently testing one called ZiUnite [Zi short for zirconium].

    I think that
    zirconium dental implants are already being used in Europe but not yet in the
    US.
    Do you think the zirconium […]

      Read More and Comment  | 36 Comments »
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  • Machined Collar Implants

    Dr. Aggar asks:My periodontist has recommended using a dental implant fixture with a
    machined (smooth) collar in patients who have chronic periodontal
    disease.

    He says these will work better than dental implant fixtures which have a surface coating up to the platform.  This seems to be true in cases where there is periodontal disease.  Are any of […]

      Read More and Comment  | 6 Comments »
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