For the treatment of areas of missing teeth dental implants have become the golden standard of care. Hygienic and comfort factors contribute to its popularity amongst patients and practitioners alike. Similar to most other treatments in dentistry, dental implants must be managed on a case-by-case basis and are sometimes susceptible to complications. The wise dentist will be able to plan ahead in order to avoid setbacks along the way.
Implant placement procedure involves placement, healing and loading… and at any stage problems can come up. Can we necessarily predict the time when an implant will fail? Nope.
But with proper analysis we can provide the opportunity of a more optimal experience for the patient, not to forget, ourselves.
At this point lets slip in a study and discuss.
A 5-year retrospective study was done on the assessment of survival rate of dental implants in patients with bruxism.
The researchers in this study identified the problem as “early/late failures of dental implants due to bruxism in patients.”
450 patients were followed up for a 5-year period and the outcomes that were assessed were described as: implant fracture, ceramic/porcelain fracture, screw loosening, screw fracture, decementation.
The study reports a survival rate of 70% and 72% of dental implants in female and male bruxers. Most common failures of single crown restorations were due to decementation, while partial and complete prostheses most commonly failed due to fracture of ceramic and porcelain.
Bruxism was seen to have a significant correlation to dental implant complications.
Parafunctional habits known as bruxism can be identified by flattening of occlusial surfaces, attrition of incisors, aching/tender points of muscles of mastication, nonspecific and periodic hypersensitivity/tenderness of teeth.
Bruxism is most popularly managed by night guard, soft diet, and exercise. However, if symptoms of muscles of mastication are persistent referral to a TMJ specialist may be indicated.
Proper Baseline assessment of our patients can determine if one is a bruxer or not.. and if they are?
Then various treatment options can be given:
If fitting a single crown on an already dentate patient, then treating the patient for bruxisms prior to placement of implant crown may be a viable option.
Complete and/or partial prostheses can be modified in order to improve rigidity with materials such as zirconia.
Today’s Morning Huddle was brought to you by Dr. Arash Mobini – Toronto, Canada.