• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.202-213
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• 2023

PURPOSE. This prospective clinical study was conducted to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the freely detachable zirconia ball- and spring-retained implant prosthesis (BSRP) through a comparative analysis of screw- and cement-retained implant prosthesis (SCRP). MATERIALS AND METHODS. A multi-center, randomized, prospective clinical study evaluating the clinical usefulness of the detachable zirconia ball- and spring-retained implant prostheses was conducted. Sixty-four implant prostheses in 64 patients were examined. Periodic observational studies were conducted at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months after delivery of the implant prosthesis. Factors such as implant success rate, marginal bone resorption, periodontal pocket depth, plaque and bleeding index, and prosthetic complications were evaluated, respectively. RESULTS. During the 1-year observation period, all implants survived without functional problems and clinical mobility, showing a 100% implant success rate. Marginal bone resorption was significantly higher in the SCRP group than in the BSRP group only at the time of implant prosthesis delivery (P = .043). In all observation periods, periodontal pocket depth was slightly higher in the BSRP group than in the SCRP group, but there was no significant difference (P > .05). The modified plaque index (mPI) scores of both groups were moderate. Higher ratio of a score 2 in modified sulcus bleeding index (mBI) was observed in the BSRP group in the 6- and 12-months observation. CONCLUSION. Within the limitations of this study, the newly developed zirconia ball- and spring-retained implant prosthesis could be considered as an applicable and predictable treatment method along with the existing screw- and cement-retained prosthesis.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.253-268
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• 2012

Full-mouth reconstruction of a patient using dental implants is a challenge if there is vertical and horizontal bone resorption, since this includes the gingival area and restricts the position of the implants. however, hard- and soft-tissue grafting may allow the implants to be placed into the desired position. Although it is possible to regenerate lost tissues, an alternative is to use fixed detachable prostheses that restore the function and the esthetics of the gingiva and teeth. Various material combinations including metal/acrylic, metal/ceramic, and zirconia/ceramic have been used for constructing this type of restoration. Other problems include wear, separation or fracture of the resin teeth from the metal/acrylic prosthesis, chipping or fracture of porcelain from the metal/ceramic or zirconia/ceramic prosthesis, and fracture of the framework in some free-end prostheses. With virtually unbreakable, chip-proof, life-like nature, monolithic zirconia frameworks can prospectively replace other framework materials. This clinical report describes the restoration of a patient with complete fixed detachable maxillary and mandibular prostheses made of monolithic zirconia with dental implants. The occluding surfaces were made of monolithic zirconia, to decrease the risk of chipping or fracture. The prostheses were esthetically pleasing, and no clinical complications have been reported after two years.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.114-118
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a titanium component for the zirconia abutment in the internal connection implant system on screw loosening under thermocycling conditions. Materials and Methods: Internal connection titanium abutments and external connection zirconia abutments with titanium sockets were connected respectively to screw-shaped internal connection type titanium implants with 30 Ncm tightening. These implant-screw-abutment assemblies were divided into two groups of five specimens each; titanium abutments as control and zirconia abutments with titanium sockets as experimental group. The specimens were subjected to 2,000 thermocycles in water baths at $5^{\circ}C$ and $55^{\circ}C$, with 60 seconds of immersion at each temperature. The removal torque values (RTVs) of the abutment screws of the specimen were measured before and after thermocycling. RTVs pre- and post-thermocycling were investigated in statistics. Results: There was not screw loosening identified by tactile and visual inspection in any of the specimens during or after thermocycling. The mean RTV difference for the control group and the experimental group were $-1.34{\pm}2.53Ncm$ and $-1.26{\pm}2.06Ncm$, respectively. Statistical analysis using an independent t-test revealed that no significant differences were found in the mean RTV difference of the groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, the titanium socket for the zirconia abutment did not show a significant effect on screw loosening under thermal stress compared to the titanium abutment in the internal connection implant.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of lithium disilicate ceramic pressed zirconia prostheses and monolithic zirconia prostheses and to investigate the complications after two years of follow-up in posterior edentulous site. Materials and methods: A total 17 patients (male: 12, female: 5) were treated with 60 posterior fixed implant-supported prostheses (LP. lithium disilicate ceramic pressed zirconia prostheses: n = 30, MZ. monolithic zirconia prostheses: n = 30). After 24-month, clinical examination of Implant survival rate, marginal bone resorption, probing depth, plaque index, bleeding index, calculus and complications were evaluated. Results: There were no failed implants and all implants were normal in function without mobility. Marginal bone resorption was lower in LP group than MZ group at 12-month (P < .05), and 12-month probing depth and calculus deposit in LP group were significantly higher than MZ group (P < .05). Most common complications in MZ were marginal bone resorptions more than 1.5.mm and 2 chipping occurred in LP group. Conclusion: Within the limitations of the present study, lithium disilicate ceramic pressed zirconia is considered as a predictable treatment option as much as monolithic zirconia in posterior fixed implant-supported prostheses.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 2015

PURPOSE. To describe and characterize the surface topography and cleanliness of CAD/CAM manufactured zirconia abutments after steaming and ultrasonic cleaning. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 12 ceramic CAD/CAM implant abutments of various manufacturers were produced and randomly divided into two groups of six samples each (control and test group). Four two-piece hybrid abutments and two one-piece abutments made of zirconium-dioxide were assessed per each group. In the control group, cleaning by steam was performed. The test group underwent an ultrasonic cleaning procedure with acetone, ethyl alcohol and antibacterial solution. Groups were subjected to scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) to verify and characterize contaminant chemical characterization non- quantitatively. RESULTS. All zirconia CAD/CAM abutments in the present study displayed production-induced wear particles, debris as well as organic and inorganic contaminants. The abutments of the test group showed reduction of surface contamination after undergoing an ultrasonic cleaning procedure. However, an absolute removal of pollutants could not be achieved. CONCLUSION. The presence of debris on the transmucosal surface of CAD/CAM zirconia abutments of various manufacturers was confirmed. Within the limits of the study design, the results suggest that a defined ultrasonic cleaning process can be advantageously employed to reduce such debris, thus, supposedly enhancing soft tissue healing. Although the adverse long-term influence of abutment contamination on the biological stability of peri-implant tissues has been evidenced, a standardized and validated polishing and cleaning protocol still has to be implemented.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2019

PURPOSE. Limited data is available regarding the differences for possible microleakage problems and fitting accuracy of zirconia versus titanium abutments with various connection designs. The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of connection design and abutment material on the sealing capability and fitting accuracy of abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 42 abutments with different connection designs [internal conical (IC), internal tri-channel (IT), and external hexagonal (EH)] and abutment materials [titanium (Ti) and zirconia (Zr)] were evaluated. The inner parts of implants were inoculated with $0.7{\mu}L$ of polymicrobial culture (P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, T. denticola and F. nucleatum) and connected with their respective abutments under sterile conditions. The penetration of bacteria into the surrounding media was assessed by the visual evaluation of turbidity at each time point and the number of colony forming units (CFUs) was counted. The marginal gap at the implant- abutment interface (IAI) was measured by scanning electron microscope. The data sets were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis followed by Mann-Whitney U tests with the Bonferroni-Holm correction (${\alpha}=.05$). RESULTS. Statistically significant difference was found among the groups based on the results of leaked colonies (P<.05). The EH-Ti group characterized by an external hexagonal connection were less resistant to bacterial leakage than the groups EH-Zr, IT-Zr, IT-Ti, IC-Zr, and IC-Ti (P<.05). The marginal misfit (in ${\mu}m$) of the groups were in the range of 2.7-4.0 (IC-Zr), 1.8-5.3 (IC-Ti), 6.5-17.1 (IT-Zr), 5.4-12.0 (IT-Ti), 16.8-22.7 (EH-Zr), and 10.3-15.4 (EH-Ti). CONCLUSION. The sealing capability and marginal fit of abutments were affected by the type of abutment material and connection design.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.196-207
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• 2018

An accurate implant placement with ideal location is significant for long-term success of the implant. An exact evaluation of nearby anatomic structures such as quality of residual bone, an inferior alveolar bone and a maxillary sinus is required. For a prosthetic-driven treatment, planned surgery, precise prosthesis and communication with the patient are significant requisites especially for full-mouth rehabilitation. In this case, the patient with severe alveolar bone resorption had a CT guided surgery supported by CT data and the data from scanning diagnostic wax-up. Afterward, edentulous area was restored by full mouth implant-supported prosthesis by using monolithic zirconia and CAD/CAM technique. This paper reports the outcome of the procedure which was remarkable both esthetically and functionally.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.81-92
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• 2014

It is so hard to obtain optimal anterior esthetics in the implant prosthesis. This is not only because of hard and soft tissue problem such as alveolar bone resorption and interdental papilla loss but also because of prosthetic limitation related to marginal exposure of metal abutment and metal ceramics and low transillumination. In this case, guided soft tissue healing is obtained using a long term provisional restoration with soft and hard tissue augmentation or immediate implantation. Then, this healed tissue is transferred to final master model using a customized impression coping and the implant is restored with a customized zirconia abutment and a all ceramics. This case presents satisfying result esthetically and functionally.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2018

PURPOSE. This study was performed to evaluate the osteogenic potential of 3mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (3Y-TZP) and niobium oxide containing Y-TZPs with specific ratios, new (Y,Nb)-TZPs, namely YN4533 and YN4533/Al20 discs. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 3Y-TZP, YN4533 and YN4533/Al20 discs (15 mm diameter and 1 mm thickness) were prepared and their average surface roughness ($R_a$) and surface topography were analyzed using 3-D confocal laser microscope (CLSM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Mouse pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells were seeded onto all zirconia discs and evaluated with regard to cell attachment and morphology by (CLSM), cell proliferation by PicoGreen assay, and cell differentiation by Reverse-Transcription PCR and Quantitative Real-Time PCR, and alkaline phosphatase (Alp) staining. RESULTS. The cellular morphology of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts was more stretched on a smooth surface than on a rough surface, regardless of the material. Cellular proliferation was higher on smooth surfaces, but there were no significant differences between 3Y-TZP, YN4533, and YN4533/Al20. Osteoblast differentiation patterns on YN4533 and YN4533/Al20 were similar to or slightly higher than seen in 3Y-TZP. Although there were no significant differences in bone marker gene expression (alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin), Alp staining indicated better osteoblast differentiation on YN4533 and YN4533/Al20 compared to 3Y-TZP. CONCLUSION. Based on these results, niobium oxide containing Y-TZPs have comparable osteogenic potential to 3Y-TZP and are expected to be suitable alternative ceramics dental implant materials to titanium for aesthetically important areas.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.469-477
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• 2021

For successful restoration of maxillary anterior implants, both pink esthetics and white esthetics must be satisfied. For pink esthetic part, the role of appropriate provisional prosthesis restoration is important, and for white esthetic part, the color and shape of the definitive prosthesis is important. Multilayer zirconia can be used for natural tooth appearance due to the higher transparency of the incisal area compared to the conventional monolithic zirconia. Therefore, in this case, white esthetic part was achieved through multilayer zirconia after recovering function and esthetics through appropriate provisional prosthesis in a patient who lost the maxillary anterior teeth.