Authors:
P.A.M. Versteegh, B.J. Polder
Source:
NTvT november 2008; 115: 580 - 587
Section:
Summary:
The treatment with implants of partially edentulous patients involves several prosthodontic and implantological dilemmas. The treatment plan is based on a thorough dental diagnosis and a prognosis for the remaining dentition. In addition, various aesthetic and functional parameters are important, such as smile line, gingival contour, presence of interdental papilla, visible amount of gum when laughing, support of the soft tissues, bone heights and occlusal relationships.The planning may include dental, surgical and orthodontic treatments, in order to create a favourable starting point for treatment with implants.
Authors:
G.T. Stoker, D. Wismeijer
Source:
NTvT november 2008; 115: 589 - 595
Section:
Summary:
Most edentulous patients experience retention problems with their lower denture, which often results in functional problems and also social ones. Since the introduction of the osseointegration concept for the edentulous patient, this patient group has been successfully treated, with demonstrably positive effects for long periods of time. The traditional protocol calls for late loading of the implants. Immediate loading of 4 implants with a bar-retained overdenture or a fixed dental prosthesis has proved to be as successful as the delayed (non-immediate) loading concept. The treatment of the edentulous patient with an overdenture on two implants has until recently been based on a treatment protocol which called for early, but not immediate, yet not definitive retention form. However, recent research shows that immediate loading of 2implants with an overdenture is just as successful and what’s more not more expensive. Because of newly developed treatment concepts delayed loading no longer has to be an automatic choice.
Authors:
H.J.A. Meijer, H. Reintsema, J.W.A. Slot
Source:
NTvT november 2008; 115: 599 - 604
Section:
Summary:
Patients with an edentulous maxilla can experience problems with a full upper denture. The most common problems are a lack of retention and the stability of the denture, but also other factors, such as an extreme gagging reflex, influence satisfaction. Attachment of a prosthesis on dental implants is a reliable solution to solve or diminish the above mentioned problems. The choice of the kind of superstructure, a removable overdenture or a fixed prosthesis, depends on a variety of factors, such as degree of resorption of the maxilla, cleaning possibilities, patients’ wishes and financial possibilities.
Authors:
M.S. Cune, C. de Putter, J.W. Verhoeven, G.J. Meijer
Source:
NTvT november 2008; 115: 613 - 619
Section:
Summary:
In clinical practice, the prognosis seems, with some reservations, to be comparable for tooth-implant and implant-implant supported bridges in the middle-long term. This conclusion seems particularly valid for tooth-implant bridges in free-end situations, where a single implant is connected with a tooth. Prerequisites are a healthy tooth abutment, a pontic length not exceeding the width of a bicuspid, a rigid connection between implant and tooth and the use of permanent cement.
Authors:
S.L. Liem
Source:
NTvT november 2008; 115: 621 - 623
Section:
Summary:
Rare diseases (prevalence < 5:10,000) are relatively uncommon, but to day about 6000 of these diseases are known so patients suffering from such a disease are forming a large group. Relevant information diagnoses and adequate therapy are difficult to obtain for these vulnerable patients. Physicians and researchers are working in networks more and more to record the outcome of research and to dispose it by databases. Patient organizations are given information and directives and their websites are accessible for the public. In this issue an overview will be given of the website of Orphanet, a database dedicated to information on rare diseases and orphan drugs, and of the website of the Dutch Steering Committee Orphan Drugs, a portal site with information to patients with a rare disease.
