• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.455-469
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• 2008

Statement of problems: In the area of dental care, the institutionalized elderly have placed the most vulnerable state, and we cannot find their subjective need of dental treatment because of the physical and mental disabilities, But we have no basic investigation of their oral health conditions. Purpose: The aims of the current study were to investigate the oral health status of institutionalized elderly patients who are in the least benefited side of dental service, and to analyze their dental treatment needs. Material and methods: The survey of the oral status was carried out on 758 institutionalized elderly, and 212 elderly who was more than 65 years old from D dental office, and it was based on the Guidelines of Oral Health Research of year 2000 in Republic of Korea. Results and conclusion: The DMFT index of the institutionalized elderly appeared higher than that of the same ages in control group, and it increased with age. The number of residual teeth of the institutionalized elderly appeared lower than that of the same ages in control group, and it decreased with age (P < .05). The number of fixed partial denture in institutionalized elderly was lower than that of the same ages in control group (P < .05). The percentage wearing removable partial denture was not significant between the elderly in institutions and the control group, and was not different according to age between the two groups. The percentage of institutionalized elderly wearing complete denture appeared lower than that of the same ages in control group, and it increased with age. The percentage of institutionalized elderly needing complete denture was higher than that of control group, and the percentage of elderly needing complete denture on the maxilla was higher than that of the mandible. 16.35% of the institutionalized elderly was living without denture in spite of their fully edentulous state. The need for complete denture increased rapidly with age. The number of valued teeth and dental prostheses in shortened dental arch concept and number of occluding pairs of teeth of institutionalized elderly were lower than that of the control group (P < .05). In institutionalized elderly, the number of residual teeth, the number of fixed partial dentures, and the percentage wearing removable partial dentures were higher in the mandible, and the percentage wearing complete dentures was higher in the maxilla (P < .05). The rate of institutionalized elderly needing prosthodontic treatment appeared to be 67.82%, where the number of occluding pairs of teeth was less than 10. When it is difficult to evaluate the subjective need of dental treatment as with the institutionalized elderly, estimation using the number of occluding pairs of teeth can be a useful indicator that can project treatment needs. For the oral health care of institutionalized elderly, it is essential to increase the awareness of nurses and caregivers who take care of them, about the importance of the oral health. Since the average life span and number of residual teeth are increasing gradually, the welfare policy should be changed to implementing regular dental examinations, preservative treatment forms and oral health control of dentulous patients where the traveling-treatment system and visit system are supplemented. And principles should be set that the present denture project of edentulous patients should be done by specialists who'll also be responsible for postmanagement. Through this research of institutionalized elderly, the oral health status which is worsened by aging could be confirmed. And the interest and positive participation of dental society on the elderly should come first in order to solve the rising treatment needs of the elderly patients.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.266-272
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• 2009

Statement of problem: The number of edentulous patients is increasing due to an aging society, which leads to increased demands and interests on implant restorations. Implant restorations are an effective treatment method for both complete and partially edentulous patients, and the success rate has been reported to be high. But because of the increased use of implants in various situations have resulted in frequent reports of failures on implant restorations. Various efforts to overcome these failures have been made. Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the statistic survival rate of dental implants on patients who were treated at Dankook University Dental Hospital during the past 10 years based on their charts. Materials and methods :The research was made for two different periods of time; The first investigation was for patients from August, 1998 to August, 2003 and the second was for patients from September, 2003 to April, 2007. Information on the number of implants placed, the location and distribution of implants, the duration between the first and second surgery, and the survival rate of implants were investigated from the patients'charts. Results: 1. According to the first investigation, 1680 implants were placed on 612 patients and the second investigation showed 2438 implants placed on 933 patients. Thus a total of 4118 implants on 1545 patients. 2. Among the 1545 patients, 884 patients were male (57.2 %) and 661 patients were female (42.8%). Out of 4118 implants, 1739 implants (42.2%) were placed on the maxilla, and 2379 implants (57.8%) on the mandible. Implants were placed most frequently in the posterior region of the mandible. A total of 2043 implants (53.2%) were placed in this region. 3. According to the first investigation, 57 out of 1680, implants failed, while from the second investigation, 17 out of 2438 implants were reported as failure. In total, 74 implants failed, which results in a 98.2% survival rate. 4. The average duration between the first and the second surgeries in maxillas decreased from 7.4 months to 6.8 months. The duration also decreased from 5.6 months to 5.0 months in mandibles. Conclusion: As shown in the results, the number of placed implants and the survival rate of implants were higher in the second investigation than that of the first investigation. And the time spent after the first surgery to the second surgery was less in the second investigation. Consequently, it can be presumed that the demand and consumption of dental implants as well as the survival rate will increase in the future.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.555-565
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• 2006

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the biological stability of the zirconia/alumina composite abutment by histologic and radiographic examination in clinical cases. 17 partially edentulous patients (5 men and 12 women, mean age 47) were treated with 37 implants. The implants were placed following the standard two-stage protocol. After a healing period of 3 to 6 months, zirconia/alumina composite abutments were connected. All radiographs were taken using paralleling technique with individually fabricated impression bite block, following insertion of the prosthesis and at the 3-, 6-, 12 month re-examinations. After processing the obtained images, the osseous level was calculated using the digital image in the mesial and distal aspect in each implant. An ANOVA and t-test were used to test for difference between the baseline and 3-, 6-, 12 months re-examinations, and for difference between maxilla and mandible. Differences at P <0.05 were considered statistically significant. For histologic examination, sample was obtained from the palatal gingiva which implant functioned for 12 months. Sections were examined under a light microscope under various magnifications. Clinically, no abutment fracture or crack as well as periimplantitis was observed during the period of study. The mean bone level reduction(${\pm}standard$ deviation) was 0.34 rom(${\pm}\;0.26$) at 3-months, 0.4 2mm(${\pm}\;0.30$) at 6-months, 0.62 mm(${\pm}\;0.28$) at 12-months respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between baseline and 3-, 6-, 12-months re-examinations (p > 0.05). The mean bone level reduction in maxilla was 0.33(${\pm}0.25$) at 3-months, 0.36(${\pm}0.33$) at 6-months, 0.56(${\pm}0.26$) at 12-months. And the mean bone level reduction in mandible was 0.35(${\pm}0.27$) at 3-months, 0,49(${\pm}0.27$) at 6-months, 0.68(${\pm}0.30$) at 12-months. No statistical difference in bone level reduction between implants placed in the maxilla and mandible. Histologically, the height of the junctional epithelium was about 2.09 mm. And the width was about 0.51 mm. Scattered fibroblasts and inflammatory cells, and dense collagen network with few vascular structures characterized the portion of connective tissue. The inflammatory cell infiltration was observed just beneath the apical end of junctional epithelium and the area of direct in contact with zirconia/alumina abutment. These results suggest the zirconia/alumina composite abutment can be used in variable intraoral condition, in posterior segment as well as anterior segment without adverse effects.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.359-365
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• 2014

Successful results of treatments using double crown prostheses for the partially edentulous patients who have a few remaining teeth have been reported in several journals. A double crown removable partial denture can be an alternative treatment for the patients with a poor periodontal condition of remaining teeth. Since a double crown removable partial denture can be applied without the risk of surgical operation to the medically compromised patients with a poor periodontal condition which is inadequate for dental implants, it has psychological and economical advantages. In this case, there were sufficient remaining teeth to be restored with fixed prostheses in maxilla, while there were a few remaining teeth with a very poor periodontal condition so that it was almost impossible to restore with a clasp removable partial denture using these remaining teeth in mandible. In addition, the patient had the medical history of surgical operation due to osteomyelitis in the mandibular anterior areas a year ago, thus difficult to conduct an implant placement. The main objective of this report is to introduce our case because a double crown partial denture using a few mandibular remaining teeth showed satisfactory results in functional and esthetical aspects during more than two years follow-up period in this unfavorable condition.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2004

Purpose: Several panoramic indices have been suggested to assess bone quality from the morphology and width of mandibular cortex on panoramic radiography. The purpose of this study was to compare dental implant failure group with control group in panoramic mandibular index (PMI), mandibular cortical index (MCI), and gonion index (GI) and to determine the effect of these panoramic indices on dental implant failure. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was designed. Test group (n=42) consisted of the patients who had their implants extracted because of peri-implantitis. Control group (n=139) consisted of the patients who retained their implants over one year without any pathologic changes and had been followed up periodically. They had dental implants installed in their mandibles without bone augmentation surgery from 1991 to 2001. The following measures were collected for each patients: 1) PMI, MCI, and GI were measured twice at one-week interval on preoperative panoramic views; and 2) age, sex, implant length, implant type, installed location, occluding dentition state, and complication were investigated from the chart record. Results: The PMI showed moderate level of repeatability. The intra-observer agreement of MCI and GI were good. There was statistically significant difference in PMI between two groups. There were significant different patterns of distribution of MCI and GI between two groups. Among the panoramic indices, PMI and MCI showed significant correlation with dental implant failure. Conclusion: Panoramic indices can be used as reference data in estimating bone quality of edentulous patients who are to have implants installed in their mandibles.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2013

Many of the patients with extensive abrasion need comprehensive restorative treatment. The abrasion is usually caused by attrition, besides of it, there are many reasons for it. The plan of treatment should be started on assessment of the type of attrition and the etiologic analysis. Patient with well-developed masticatory muscle, alveolar process, and high occlusal force and also with little muscle length difference between the stable and the contracted state should be carefully assessed for the vertical dimensional loss and the restoration should be carefully designed. Decrease of tooth length can be compensated by the growth of the alveolar bone height; therefore, consistency of the occlusal vertical dimension is maintained. Accordingly, a careless increase of the vertical dimension can produce muscle fatigue, depressed tooth and pain, and fracture of the restoration. In this case, the patient with multiple tooth abrasion and clenching habit, the edentulous maxillary area is restored with amalgam inserted RPD, and the dentulous area of the maxilla and mandible are treated with fixed restoration accompanying with the increase of vertical dimension. Consequently, we are going to report about the satisfying result in both functional and esthetic aspects.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.267-272
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• 2016

This case report describes the treatment of two fully edentulous patients with mini-implant overdentures using different implant systems on narrow mandibular alveolar bone ridge. They were complaining about discomfort and pain wearing mandibular conventional complete dentures caused by insufficient retention. Each patient received four miniimplants in the interforaminal area of the mandible using the non-submerged flapless surgical approach. One-body type implant (Slimline, Dentium, Seoul, Korea) was used for a patient and loaded immediately after surgery. Metal housings of O-ring were attached by direct technique. For the other patient, two-piece type implant (LODI, Zest Anchors, Escondido, CA, USA) was used and impressions were made for attachment connection of the Locator's metal housings after 8 weeks of surgery. Within this case report, mandibular miniimplant overdentures using different implant systems showed improvement of patient satisfaction with favorable peri-implant tissue response 6 months after attachment connection. However, long-term follow-up is needed for further evaluation.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2015

Loss of continuity of the mandible destroys the balance and symmetry of mandibular function, leading to altered mandibular movements and deviation of the residual fragment towards the resected side. Apart from deviation, other dysfunctions include difficulty in swallowing, speech, mandibular movements, mastication, and respiration are accompanied. In general, surgical reconstruction is considered first then proceeds to the prosthetic restorations. However, patients with systemic disease such as BRONJ (Bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the Jaw), surgical reconstruction may be limited. Thus, the prosthetic restoration remains as the only resort. Numerous prosthetic methods are employed to minimize deviation and to improve masticatory efficiency, function and esthetics. If a removable partial denture is the selected treatment modality, maximum stability of the partial denture base may be accomplished with a functional impression procedure by means of eliminating lateral and horizontal forces caused by the functional movements of the lips, cheeks and tongue. Also, Twin occlusion is used to obtain a favorable occlusal relationship and check support for esthetics. The purpose of this case report is to demonstrate how neutral zone impression technique and twin occlusion scheme were applied to restore a hemi-mandiblectomy patient with BRONJ syndrome to achieve satisfactory results in functional and esthetic aspects.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.301-309
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• 2015

Purpose: When the edentulous area is restored by implant prostheses, the opposing hypofunctioned teeth will receive physiologic mechanical stimuli. This study evaluated the bone changes around the maxillary teeth opposing an implant restoration installed in the mandibular posterior area. Materials and Methods: Radiographs of the opposing teeth were taken at prostheses delivery (baseline), 3 and 6 months later. A customized film holding device was fabricated to standardize the projection geometry for the serial radiographs of the opposing teeth. The gray values of the region of interest of each digital image were compared according to time. Repeated measured analysis of variance was performed at the 95% significance level. Results: The gray values of the alveolar bone around the antagonist teeth of implants increased with time. The changes in gray values of the middle area were greater than those of the crestal area. However, the gray values of the mesial and distal areas were not different. The changes in gray values were different according to the unloaded time. Conclusion: A change in bone tissue will occur if a proper physiologic load is again applied to the bone tissues around a hypofunctioned tooth.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.469-484
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to evaluate new bone formation following guided bone regeneration by resorbable and nonresorbable membrane. Six adult mongrel dogs were used. The first, second, third, fourth premolars in the mandible of each dog were extracted. Two months after tooth extraction, a buccal dehiscence defect was surgically created on each edentulous area. The experimental sites were divided into three groups according to the treatment modalities ; Group I-a: surgical treatment only ; Group I -b: allogenic decalcified freezed dried bone grafting ; Group II-a : e- PTFE membrane placement only ; Group II-b : allogenic decalcified freezed dried bone grafting and e-PTFE membrane placement ; Group III-a : Vicryl(R) mesh placement only ; Group III-b : allogenic decalcified freezed dried bone grafting and Vicryl(R) mesh placement . The animals were sacrificed at 8 weeks after operation and the specimens were prepared for histologic and histometric examination. The results were as follows : Clinically, all defect sites were healed without exposure of barrier membrane after the eight weeks. In Group I-a, dense connective tissues were impinged in the bony defect area. Well vascularized and fibrous bone marrow indicated that bone formation was still taking place was found. In Group I-b, in areas closer to the periphery, lamellation of the newly formed bone would found. In Group II-a, beneath the e-PTFE membrane a dense layer of connective tissue covering the most external portions of the regenerated tissue was seen. The new bone surfaces were lined with osteoid and osteoblast. In Group II-b, a dense layer of connective tissue covering the most external portions of the regenerated tissue was observed beneath the e-PTFE membrane. A notable amount of alveolar ridge regeneration was seen with new rigdes with well-contoured form. In Group III-a, the new bone surface were lined with osteoid and osteoblast, indicating active bone formation. A clear demarcation could not be noted between the host bone and new bone. In Group III-b, a notable amount of alveolar ridge regeneration was seen with new ridges assuming wellcontoured form. In areas closer to the periphery, lamellation of the newly formed bone would found. As histometric examination, the amount of bone formation was gained from $12.8mm^2$ to $26.3mm^2$. It was significantly greater in group II-b and group III-b compared to other groups(p<0.05) . These results suggest that Vicryl(R) mesh after DFDB grafting used in guided bone regeneration could create and sustain sufficient space for new bone formation.