When looking across all bone qualities, the Mark IV implant develops a significantly higher insertion torque than the Standard, Mark II, and Osseotite implant types, and a significantly higher resonance frequency value than the Standard implant, indicating a higher interfacial stiffness at the implant-bone interface.

This article describes and discusses the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Australia, its impact on people and the economy and policy responses to these impacts. It discusses the implications of these responses for post-pandemic recovery, though noting that the country’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has, thus far, been among the most successful in the world. Australia’s early physical distancing measures, relatively high per capita testing rates, political stability, national wealth and geographic isolation are among the explanatory factors. This article summarises Australia’s socio-economic responses to the pandemic and shows what this means, especially, for vulnerable groups, and thereby for social inequality, which the pandemic has aggravated and which may become more apparent, still, as debates about paths to economic and social recovery are in some respects already polarising. Although it is relatively early to clearly identify lessons learnt from these responses, it is safe to conclude that further policy development needs to be carefully focused to avoid exacerbating existing inequalities.

The results from the present study showed that 1 degrees of taper results in a better primary stability compared with the standard Brånemark design. There was no evidence that the tapered design caused negative bone tissue reactions. All the implants gained in stability during the healing period.

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Within the limitations of this study, the results agree with the manufacturer's claim that when compared with standard implants, the design of the Mk IV implant increases implant primary stability with a reduction in the energy imparted into the bone at the implant site.

Bacterial colonisation of exposed implant and abutment surfaces can lead to peri-implantitis, a common cause of oral implant failure. When an abutment becomes exposed in the oral environment the typical recommendation is to debride it, to obtain a smoother surface which might be expected to reduce bacterial colonisation. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, a conventional polishing protocol (PP1) and a simplified polishing protocol (PP2), suggested to have advantages over PP1. The surface morphology and roughness of titanium abutments were characterised at each stage of polishing, and adhesion of oral bacteria was evaluated, using atomic force microscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy and optical profilometry. PP1 and PP2 methodologies resulted in indistinguishable surface finishes, with fewer scratches than the unmodified surface, and equal roughness values. PP2 resulted in less disruption and less removal of surface material. Early biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans was reduced on surfaces polished using PP2, but not PP1. Biofilms of Actinomyces naeslundii were more extensive on polished abutment surfaces. Simplified protocol PP2 may be preferable to conventional protocol PP1, since less material is removed, and there is less chance of rough areas remaining. Polishing, however, does not necessarily reduce oral bacterial colonisation.

BackgroundGlass ionomer cements (GICs) are a class of dental biomaterials. They have a wide range of uses including permanent restorations (fillings), cavity linings, fissure sealants and adhesives. One of the most common reasons for replacing a dental restoration is recurrent bacterial tooth decay around the margins of the biomaterial. Therefore, a dental biomaterial which creates a sustained antimicrobial environment around the restoration would be of considerable clinical benefit. In this manuscript, the formulation of a GIC containing novel antimicrobial nanoparticles composed of chlorhexidine hexametaphosphate at 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20% powder substitution by mass is reported. The aim is to create GICs which contain chlorhexidine-hexametaphosphate nanoparticles and characterize the nanoparticle size, morphology and charge and the release of chlorhexidine and fluoride, tensile strength and morphology of the GICs.ResultsThe GICs released chlorhexidine, which is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent effective against a wide range of oral bacteria, over the duration of the experiment in a dose-dependent manner. This was not at the expense of other properties; fluoride release was not significantly affected by the substitution of antimicrobial nanoparticles in most formulations and internal structure appeared unaffected up to and including 10% substitution. Diametral tensile strength decreased numerically with substitutions of 10 and 20% nanoparticles but this difference was not statistically significant.ConclusionA series of GICs functionalized with chlorhexidine-hexametaphosphate nanoparticles were created for the first time. These released chlorhexidine in a dose-dependent manner. These materials may find application in the development of a new generation of antimicrobial dental nanomaterials.

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