Purpose To evaluate the buccal bone thickness of immediate implant placement with buccal bone augmentation in patients with a thin buccal plate in the esthetic zone. Materials and methods Eighteen consecutive patients requiring a single tooth replacement in the anterior maxillary zone with a thin plate (<1 mm) were included and received immediate implant placement with narrow‐diameter implants. Patients received buccal bone augmentation (both internal and external socket bone grafting) with deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) and an absorbable membrane. The final restoration was delivered after 8 months. Cone‐beam CT scans were performed before surgery (CBCT0), immediately after surgery (CBCT1), at final restoration delivery (CBCT2), and at 1‐year follow‐up after the final restoration (CBCT3) to evaluate the buccal bone thickness and ridge width. A repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons were applied for statistical analysis of changes within different time points (α = 0.05). Results Fifteen of the 18 enrolled patients were available for analysis at the 1‐year follow‐up after final restoration. The mean buccal bone thickness at 2 mm apical to the implant‐abutment junction (IAJ‐2) were 3.59 mm (range: 3.04‐4.58 mm), 2.79 mm (range: 2.25‐3.78 mm), and 2.52 mm (range: 1.72‐3.36 mm), respectively, at CBCT1, CBCT2, and CBCT3. A statistical significance was observed for buccal bone thickness change between CBCT1 and CBCT2 at IAJ‐2 (F = 17.948, p = 0.001). The net gains of the ridge width from CBCT0 to CBCT1, CBCT1 to CBCT2, and CBCT2 to CBCT3 were 1.08 mm, –0.94 mm and –0.04 mm at 4 mm apical to the cementum‐enamel junction, respectively. No statistical significance was observed for the change in ridge width from CBCT0 to CBCT3 (F = 10.518, p = 1.000). Conclusions Simultaneous buccal bone augmentation may maintain a predictable buccal bone thickness for immediate implant placement in the maxillary anterior sites with a thin buccal plate (<1 mm) at 1‐year follow‐up after final restoration.

Background: Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) has been identified as a valid therapeutic target in several inflammatory diseases. In this study, we assessed PDE4 in gingival tissue from patients with chronic periodontitis and evaluated the therapeutic effects of the PDE4 inhibitor, roflumilast, in an experimental rat model of periodontitis. Methods: Gingival tissue specimens from 20 healthy subjects and 20 patients with periodontitis were collected, and the mRNA expression levels of PDE4, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were assessed. Ninety rats were divided randomly into three groups (30 per group): non-ligature group, ligature-induced periodontitis group (L), and ligature-induced periodontitis with roflumilast administered group (5 mg/kg/d) (L+R). Rats were euthanized on days 3, 8, and 14. Alveolar bone resorption was analyzed using microcomputed tomography. Inflammation and osteoclast number were analyzed histologically. Finally, the mRNA expression levels of PDE-4, IL-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were assessed in the rat gingival tissue. Results:The mRNA expression levels of PDE4, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the gingiva were significantly higher in patients with periodontitis compared with healthy individuals (P <0.05). Alveolar bone loss, degree of inflammation, number of TRAP-positive multinucleated osteoclasts, and mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, NF-κB, and PDE4 in the L+R group were significantly lower than those in the L group (P <0.05). Conclusions: PDE4 expression was increased in the gingiva of patients with periodontitis. Roflumilast may decrease alveolar bone loss and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in rats with ligature-induced periodontitis.

Coordination-driven reversible surfaces with site-specifically immobilized his-tagged nanobody for high-efficiency capture and release of cancer cells.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the peri‐implant soft tissue and marginal bone loss (MBL) around implants with platform‐switching and internal conical connection placed at crestal and subcrestal levels in posterior areas.Materials and methodsNineteen partially edentulous patients with at least two adjacent missing teeth in posterior areas unilaterally or bilaterally were included. Forty‐two implants were placed randomly at the crestal or subcrestal (1 mm) level in a split‐mouth design. Implant‐supported fixed dental prostheses with screw retention were delivered after 4 months of healing. Clinical and radiological measurements were performed at implant placement (T0), restoration delivery (T1), and 1‐year follow‐up after loading (T2). MBL was calculated as the change in distance from the implant‐abutment interface to the first radiographically visible bone‐implant contact. A repeated‐measures mixed ANOVA followed by a paired Student's t‐test with the Bonferroni correction was used for statistical analysis. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsEighteen patients with thirty‐eight implants completed the study at T2. The MBL was lower in the subcrestal group than in the crestal group (0.04 ± 0.08 vs. 0.17 ± 0.17 mm, p = 0.004). The peri‐implant probing depth (PD) was 2.31 ± 0.48 mm in the subcrestal group and 1.92 ± 0.43 mm in the crestal group; this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.002). Intragroup comparison showed no significant differences in MBL, or PD around the crestal group and subcrestal group from T1 to T2.ConclusionAfter 1 year of functional loading, subcrestal placement of implants with platform‐switching and internal conical connection showed lower MBL and was associated with greater PD and peri‐implant soft tissue height than implants placed at the crestal level.