The present randomized clinical trial could not confirm the hypothesis of a reduced peri-implant bone loss at implants restored according to the concept of platform switching.

Optical and tactile scanners with CAD/CAM technology allow for the fabrication of highly accurate long-span screw-retained ZrO implant-reconstructions. Titanium frameworks showed the most consistent precision. Fit of the cast alloy frameworks was clinically inacceptable.

The results obtained for the interocclusal perception sensibility differed between subjects far more than they differed between natural teeth and implants in the same individual [implant/natural tooth: 16.7+/-11.3 microm (0.6-53.1 microm); natural tooth/natural tooth: 14.3+/-10.6 microm (0.5-68.2 microm)]. The intraindividual differences only amounted to a mean value of 2.4+/-9.4 microm (-15.1 to 27.5 microm). The result of our statistical calculations showed that the active tactile sensibility of single-tooth implants, both in the anterior and posterior region of the mouth, in combination with a natural opposing tooth is similar to that of pairs of opposing natural teeth (double t-test, equivalence margin: +/-8 microm, P<0.001, power >80%). Hence, the implants could be integrated in the stomatognathic control circuit.

In a demographic survey, 300 residents of a German city were questioned to determine the prevalence of dental anxiety. The correlation between the amount of dental anxiety and the age, sex, and education of the subjects was examined and the reasons for avoiding dentist's appointments, the duration of this avoidance, and what the subjects desire from future dental treatment. The Hierarchical Anxiety Questionnaire (HAQ) was used to measure the amount of dental anxiety. The average level of anxiety was 28.8+/-10.1 according to the HAQ. Young people were more afraid than older people (p=0.007), and women were more anxious than men (p=0.004). Of the women, 72% go to the dentist regularly, but only 60% of the men do (p=0.020). A painful experience while receiving dental treatment was given by 67% as the main reason for their dental anxiety, followed by a fear of needles (35%). The people wished for the most accurate information available about the dental treatment they receive (69%), followed by a compassionate dentist (62%), and treatment that is free of pain (62%). Of the people, 11% [95% CI: (7.5%; 14.5%)] suffer from dental phobia. All dental phobics were able to state the cause of their fear and more urgently wished for help from the dentist in overcoming their anxiety than the non-phobics (p=0.030). To satisfy the needs of the phobic patients, it appears necessary to screen the phobics out of the group of all patients and then offer them adequate therapy, or refer these patients to specialised treatment centres.

The stabilisation of a lower complete prosthesis with four NDIs is a feasible minimally invasive and economical approach to improve oral function and OHRQoL, especially in elderly patients with limited bone support. Functional benefits might be more evident if patients receive chewing instructions. Larger studies need to confirm a positive effect on chewing efficiency and develop long-term maintenance solutions if patients become frail because no easy downgrading approaches of one-piece titanium implants exist.