• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.105-107
• /
• 2024

The author herein presents an unusual case of eustachian tube calcification masquerading as loose radiopacities in the temporomandibular joints on a panoramic image, creating a diagnostic challenge. The patient, a 72-year-old woman, presented to the dental service for implant treatment to improve her masticatory function. A cone-beam computed tomography scan was performed and reviewed by a board-certified oral and maxillofacial radiologist. The scan showed no evidence of calcifications in the temporomandibular joints; however, it revealed nodular calcifications within the cartilaginous portion of the eustachian tube bilaterally. Additionally, this report briefly reviews the differential diagnosis of calcified loose bodies in the temporomandibular joint and provides information that needs to be reinforced periodically.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.58 no.2
• /
• pp.161-168
• /
• 2020

Failure of fixed implant supported prosthesis is caused by biomechanical factors such as excessive occlusal stress and biological factors such as bacterial infections and inflammation. Implants with severe bone resorption that have worsened without being resolved due to implant complications should be removed and then new treatments should be planned, taking into account remaining teeth, remaining implants, and residual alveolar. The patient of this case removed some of fixed implant prosthesis of mandible. The condition of the remaining alveolar bone was reassessed for further implant replacement and a few implants were placed. Then implant assisted removable partial denture (IAPRD) treatment is performed using implant surveyed bridge as abutment. Through this treatment, the clinical results were satisfactory on aspect of masticatory function recovery and oral hygiene management.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.60 no.4
• /
• pp.412-419
• /
• 2022

For treatment of partially edentulous patients, a treatment using implant is widely used. Treatment method using implant are implant fixed prostheses and removable partial dentures, and for patients with severe bone resorption, removable implant overdenture with the effects of aesthetic and reducing cost can be used as treatment options. Specially, prosthesis with milled-bar and attachment has the effect of being splinted between implant fixtures, higher retention and stability than conventional removable partial denture. And it has the effect of improvement of aesthetic through lip support by denture base. In this case, the patient with severe alveolar bone resorption and partial edentulous maxilla and mandible was treated by implant-assisted removable partial denture using Milled-bar and ADD-TOC attachment. The esthetic was improved by removing the clasp because of effects of additional retention by using the attachment, and reducing palatal coverage of implant-assisted removable partial denture. The clinical results were satisfactory on the aspect of aesthetic and masticatory function.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.128-148
• /
• 2023

Dementia is an umbrella term that describes the loss of thinking, memory, attention, logical reasoning, and other mental abilities to the extent that it interferes with the activities of daily living. More than 50 million individuals worldwide live with dementia, which is expected to increase to 131 million by 2050. Recent research has shown that poor oral health increases the risk of dementia, while oral health declines with cognitive decline. In this narrative review, the literature was based on the "hypothesis" that dementia and oral health have a close relationship, and appropriate oral health and occlusal rehabilitation treatment can improve the quality of life of patients with dementia and prevent progression. We conducted a literature search in PubMed and Google Scholar databases, using the search terms "dementia," "major neurocognitive disorder," "dentition," "occlusion," "tooth loss," "dental prosthesis," "dental implant," and "occlusal rehabilitation" in the title field over the past 30 years. A total of 131 studies that scientifically addressed dementia, oral health, and/or oral rehabilitation were included. In a meta-analysis, the random effect model demonstrated significant tooth loss increasing the dementia risk 3.64-fold (pooled odds ratio=3.64, 95% confidence interval [2.50~5.32], P-value=0.0348). Tooth loss can be an important indicator of cognitive function decline. As the number of missing teeth increases, the risk of dementia increases. Loss of teeth can lead to a decrease in the ascending information to the brain and reduced masticatory ability, cerebral blood flow, and psychological atrophy. Oral microbiome dysbiosis and migration of key bacterial species to the brain can also cause dementia. Additionally, inflammation in the oral cavity affects the inflammatory response of the brain and the complete body. Conversely, proper oral hygiene management, the placement of dental implants or prostheses to replace lost teeth, and the restoration of masticatory function can inhibit symptom progression in patients with dementia. Therefore, improving oral health can prevent dementia progression and improve the quality of life of patients.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.87-95
• /
• 2017

This case study was to report the possible increase in the denture retention and psychological relief using the implant-supported fixed prostheses in a completely edentulous patient. The implants were placed in the anterior portion of the mandible in a patient who had completely edentulous state following the extraction of residual abutment teeth, and consequently a distal extension removable partial denture was fabricated. The patient's adaptation and satisfaction to the new prosthesis was monitored and confirmed in terms of masticatory function and esthetics, by restoring the oral condition similar to initial status before the residual teeth extraction. After 6 months, radiographic examination confirmed that both the abutment teeth and the implants were stable and well maintained. Considering the relatively short clinical follow-up period, however, continuous long-term monitoring was required.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.60 no.1
• /
• pp.44-54
• /
• 2022

Without proper treatment on the multiple tooth missing area, the lack of posterior support and the supra-eruption of the teeth cause many severe complications of occlusion, vertical dimension and masticatory function. This report is a case of full-mouth rehabilitation of a patient with loss of posterior support and collapsed occlusion due to missing teeth area left untreated for a long time. The patient who is 68-year old male patient had some teeth fallen out while removing his old maxillary denture and was complaining about pain in the region of anterior teeth due to traumatic contact. The vertical dimension was corrected by 4 mm from the top cervical point of the canine through various evaluations and the edentulous area was treated with the implant fixed prostheses through computer guided implant surgery based on the diagnosis and treatment plan for definitive prostheses supported by computed tomography (CT) data analysis and CAD-CAM (Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) technique. After full mouth rehabilitation, the patient was very satisfied with remarkable improvements in mastication, function, and aesthetics.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.126-131
• /
• 2016

Surgical management of oral cancer results in compromised masticatory and swallowing function which affects patient in social and psychological aspects due to reduced phonetic ability and facial deformity, thus, it is imperative to provide applicable prosthetic treatment to overcome such complications. This clinical study describes rehabilitation of a patient with squamous cell carcinoma treated with marginal mandibulectomy and implantation on preserved posterior portion of mandible to provide stability and support for subsequent denture treatment. Kennedy class IV removable partial denture has provided satisfactory results in esthetics and function. Bone level stability around implants was reported to be maintained during eight months of clinical observation.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.58 no.2
• /
• pp.137-144
• /
• 2020

Implant-fixed prostheses and removable partial dentures are widely used as a traditional treatment method for partially edentulous patients who have lost multiple teeth. Recently, there has been increasing interest in implant-assisted removable partial denture (IARPD), which additionally obtains retention and support using a small number of implants. The IARPDs have higher retention, stability, and aesthetics than conventional removable dentures. It also has the effect of reducing the cost as well as the burden of surgery by placing a small number of implants at the edentulous site. In this case, the patient with a partial edentulous state that has multiple numbers of tooth loss in maxilla initially planned to be treated with implant fixed prosthesis. However, the treatment plan was changed to IARPD using Bar and Locator due to several factors. The clinical results were satisfactory on the aspect of esthetic and masticatory function.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.314-321
• /
• 2016

Conventional removable partial dentures (RPDs) with distal extensions are associated with some problems, including lack of stability that calls for frequent relining, and cantilever actions of claps that can produce excessive loading to abutment teeth, and the need for unesthetic retentive arm clasps. Therefore, IARPDs (Implant-assisted RPD) that use implants to support or retain RPDs has been reported to improve stability, esthetics and masticatory performance of RPDs. Also, an IARPD that has zirconia occlusal table can prevent the incongruity of occlusal plane and the extrusion of antagonistic tooth. In this case of partially edentulous patient with crossed occlusion, each edentulous area was restored with implant fixed prosthesis and implant retained partial denture to suit each situation. Through the procedure, satisfactory outcomes were achieved both in functional and esthetic aspects.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.59 no.1
• /
• pp.88-96
• /
• 2021

Fixed implant prostheses or removable partial dentures are common treatment for partially dentulous patients. Recently, an implant-assisted removable partial denture (IARPD) has been introduced and is widely used. In the case of removable partial dentures using implant attachment and surveyed fixed prostheses, the consideration about parallelism of insertion path between implants and surveyed fixed prostheses is an important factor for success of IARPDs. In this case, she complained of discomfort while using the mandibular removable partial denture. Thus, an IARPD using implant surveyed fixed prostheses was fabricated. Thereafter, more implants were placed by a digital guide surgery to have the same insertion path as the existing surveyed fixed prostheses. Locator attachments were installed to the left and right premolar implants, and the left molar was able to obtain support of the removable partial denture with healing abutment. The clinical results were satisfactory on the aspect of aesthetic and masticatory function.