Objectives To evaluate prospectively the clinical and radiographic outcomes after ten years of short (6 mm) implants with a moderately rough surface supporting single crowns in the posterior region. Material and Methods Forty 6 mm modified sandblasted large‐grit acid‐etched (mod‐SLA), soft tissue level implants were installed in the distal segments of 35 consecutive patients. After 6 weeks of healing, abutments were tightened, and single porcelain‐fused‐to‐metal crowns were cemented. Implant survival, marginal bone loss, and clinical crown/implant ratio were evaluated at various time intervals up to 10 years after loading. Results Two out of the 40 implants were lost before loading, one implant was lost after 7 years because of peri‐implantitis. One patient with two implants died and was excluded from analysis. Two patients did not come at the 10‐year follow‐up and were considered as drop out (2 implants). The survival rate was 91.7% (n = 36). Thirty‐three implants were available for marginal bone loss evaluation. A mean marginal bone loss after 10 years of function was 0.8 ± 0.7 mm. Between 5 and 10 years, the loss was 0.2 ± 0.4 mm. No technical complications were registered during the 10‐year period. The clinical crown/implant ratio increased with time from 1.6 at the delivery of the prosthesis to 2.0 after 10 years of loading with no increase between 5 and 10 years. Conclusion Short (6 mm) implants with a moderately rough surface supporting single crowns in the posterior region and loaded after 6–7 weeks maintained full function for at least 10 years with low marginal bone resorption.

No abstract

In the context of the use of AM, particularly in the L-PBF technique, the printability characterization of material occurs through the identification of its printability map as a function of printing process parameters. The printability map identifies the region where the powder melting is optimal and ensures a dense and defect-free material. Identifying the zones affected by physical phenomena that occur during the printing process which lead to material defects such as keyhole, lack of fusion and balling mode is also possible. Classical methods for the characterization of material and the identification of its printability map require the printing of a large number of specimens. The analysis of the specimens is currently time-consuming and costly. This paper proposed a methodology to identify optimal process parameters in L-PBF using an integrated single and multi-tracks analyses embedded in an overall algorithm with detailed metrics and specific factors. The main scope is to speed up the identification of printability window and, consequently, material characterization, reducing the number of micrographic analyses. The method is validated through an experimental campaign assessing the material microstructure in terms of porosity and melt pool evaluation. The case study on IN718 superalloy shows how the application of the proposed method allows an important reduction of micrographic analysis. The results obtained in the case study are a reduction of 25% for the complete definition of the printability map and more than 90% for identifying the zone with a high productivity rate.

The primary aim was to evaluate the association of patient related factors, biomaterials and implant characteristics on complications' rate of sinus graft surgery and on implant survival rate in grafted sinus. Secondary aims were to measure bone remodelling around implants and the patients' satisfaction. A retrospective cohort study was designed. Patients who had computer tomography before sinus surgery (T0), orthopantomography after implant surgery (T1) and at follow-up (T2), were included. Specific forms were used to collect clinical data. Radiographic measures were: height of residual bone before sinus surgery measured on computer tomography (T0) and apical and marginal bone levels around implants measured on orthopantomography at T1 and T2. Forty-three lateral sinus lifts were performed. Three grafts failed before implant insertion. Out of 83 implants inserted in 29 patients, a total of 19 failed. Mean follow-up (T2) was 6±1,8 years [4;11.2 years]. The multilevel models analysis showed no association between complications' rate and patient related factors, biomaterials and implant characteristics. Smoking (OR of 8.3 - 95%CI 1.46; 48.05, P = 0.0173) and height of residual bone (OR of 0.32 for each mm - 95%CI 0.15; 0.68, P = 0.0034) were associated with implant failure Bone remodelling between T1 and T2 was -0.8±0.2 mm for apical bone and -0.6±0.3mm for marginal bone. General therapy satisfaction measured in a visual analogue scale was 8.4 ±1.4. In conclusion lower height of residual bone before sinus surgery and smoking habits had a negative prognostic effect on survival rate of dental implants placed in grafted sinuses.