Three-dimensional printed surgical guides increase the precision of orthodontic mini-implant placement. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of disinfection and of two types of autoclave sterilization on the mechanical properties of 3D printed surgical guides obtained via the SLA (stereolithography) and DLP (digital light processing) printing methods. A total of 96 standard specimens (48 SLA and 48 DLP) were printed to analyze the tensile and flexural properties of the materials. A total of 80 surgical guide (40 SLA and 40 DLP) specimens from each printing method were classified into four groups: CG (control group); G1, disinfected with 4% Gigasept (Gigasept Instru AF; Schülke & Mayer Gmbh, Norderstedt, Germany); G2, autoclave-sterilized (121 °C); and G3, autoclave-sterilized (134 °C). Significant differences in the maximum compressive load were determined between the groups comprising the DLP-(p < 0.001) and the SLA- (p < 0.001) printed surgical guides. Groups G2 (p = 0.001) and G3 (p = 0.029) showed significant parameter modifications compared with the CG. Disinfection with 4% Gigasept (Gigasept Instru AF; Schülke & Mayer Gmbh, Norderstedt, Germany) is suitable both for SLA- and DLP-printed surgical guides. Heat sterilization at both 121 °C and 134 °C modified the mechanical properties of the surgical guides.

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This 2-year study illustrated that short implants are a viable option in selected clinical scenarios. Short implants with wider diameters are preferred because they have less marginal implant bone loss.

Different types of internal implant–abutment connections, namely hexagon and conical, have been used for implant restoration. However, data regarding the benefits of these internal connections in terms of clinical outcomes are scarce. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to compare radiographic marginal bone loss (RMBL) and associated implant complications between implants with internal hexagon (IH) connections and those with internal conical (IC) connections. Forty-nine patients with 98 implants (two per patient) placed in the posterior mandible were recruited. All implants were inserted in pairs in solid D2 bone according to a randomized sequence; the first patient received an IH connection implant on the mesial side while the second patient received an IC connection implant on the mesial side. Each patient received one implant with an IH connection and one with an IC connection, placed side-by-side. Four months after placement, all implants were loaded with single screw-retained ceramic restorations with internal hexagon or conical connections. RMBL and complications, including implant/prosthesis failure, were recorded at the time of implant loading (baseline) and 6, 12, and 36 months after loading. The results revealed no significant between-group differences in RMBL (P = .74), gingival bleeding on probing (P = .29), and complications (P = .32). Thus, the type of internal implant–abutment connection did not affect clinical outcomes, including RMBL and implant/prosthesis failure. Future studies should additionally evaluate long-term prosthesis-related complications such as screw loosening and fracture between the two types of internal connections.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of feldspathic ceramic laminate veneers over a 7-year period using minimally invasive techniques, such as vertical preparation (without prosthetic finish line), or no preparation (no-prep). A total of 170 feldspathic ceramic veneers were cemented in the anterior region, including 70 maxillary and 100 mandibular veneers, after special conditioning of the teeth and restorations. The veneers were evaluated using the FDI World Dental Federation criteria evaluation kit after recalling all the patients between February and June 2021. In total, 14 feldspathic veneers failed and were replaced with lithium disilicate because of core fracture, and 10 cases of chipping occurred on the ceramic surface and were polished. The overall survival rate was 91.77% for up to 7 years of function, with a failure rate of 8.23%. In this retrospective survival analysis, the failures, including the fracture of veneers and dental hard tissue, occurred both in prep and no-prep teeth. No failures were observed in veneers with a maximum thickness of 0.5 mm compared to those with a maximum thickness of 1 mm, 1.5 mm, 2 mm, and 2.5 mm.

The aim of this study was to compare the conventional healing screw with custom healing screw in terms of maintenance of soft tissue architecture. Twenty-four patients who underwent single tooth extraction and single immediate implant placement were included in the study. Twelve patients were treated with conventional healing screw after immediate implant placement (control group) and 12 were treated with screwretained custom healing screw (test group). After minimally traumatic tooth extraction, a temporary abutment was fabricated utilizing flowable composite, which adapted to the socket architecture, to serve as a customized healing screw. In order to evaluate soft tissue remodeling in all cases, digital impressions were made before tooth extraction, at implant insertion, at 6 months after insertion, and after placement of the final restorations. After 6 months of the Osseo integrated period, the custom healing screw served successfully as a tooth profile for peri-implant tissue. In cases of implants with conventional healing screw, soft tissue remodeling around the implants is observed, in contrast to cases of custom healing abutments. Correct design of a healing abutment is important for maintaining the emergence contour in cases of immediate implant placement. In our study, a considerable difference was observed between the standard healing screw and customized healing screw. The selection between provisional restoration and customized healing abutment is only based on esthetic considerations.

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Within the limitations of the study, the short drilling protocol proposed herein may represent a safe approach for implant site preparation.