F. Cattoni, Luca Chirico, A. Merlone
Mar 26, 2021
Citations
1
Influential Citations
20
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the traditional “All on Four” technique with digital smile designed computer-aided “All on Four” rehabilitation; with a 4-years follow-up. The protocol was applied to a total of 50 patients randomly recruited and divided in two groups. Digital protocol allows for a completely virtual planning of the exact position of the fixtures, which allows one to perform a flapless surgery procedure with great accuracy (mini-invasive surgery) and also it is possible to use virtually planned prostheses realized with Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) (methods for an immediate loading of the implants. After 4 years from the treatments 98% of success were obtained for the group of patients treated with the traditional protocol and 100% for the digital protocol. At each time interval a significant difference in peri-implant crestal bone loss between the two groups was detected; with an average Marginal Bone Loss (MBL) at 4 years of 1.12 ± 0.26 mm in the traditional group and 0.83 ± 0.11 mm in the digital group. Patients belonging to the digital group have judged the immediate loading (92%), digital smile preview (93%), the mock-up test (98%) and guided surgery (94%) as very effective. All patients treated with a digital method reported lower values of during-surgery and post-surgery pain compared to patients rehabilitated using traditional treatment. In conclusion, the totally digital protocol described in the present study represents a valid therapeutic alternative to the traditional “All on Four” protocol for implant-supported rehabilitations of edentulous dental arches.