The present systematic review critically examines the available scientific literature on risk factors for malnutrition in the older population (aged ≥65 y). A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, reviewing reference lists from 2000 until March 2015. The 2499 papers identified were subjected to inclusion criteria that evaluated the study quality according to items from validated guidelines. Only papers that provided information on a variable's effect on the development of malnutrition, which requires longitudinal data, were included. A total of 6 longitudinal studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. These studies reported the following significant risk factors for malnutrition: age (OR: 1.038; P = 0.045), frailty in institutionalized persons (β: 0.22; P = 0.036), excessive polypharmacy (β: -0.62; P = 0.001), general health decline including physical function (OR: 1.793; P = 0.008), Parkinson disease (OR: 2.450; P = 0.047), constipation (OR: 2.490; P = 0.015), poor (OR: 3.30; P value not given) or moderate (β: -0.27; P = 0.016) self-reported health status, cognitive decline (OR: 1.844; P = 0.001), dementia (OR: 2.139; P = 0.001), eating dependencies (OR: 2.257; P = 0.001), loss of interest in life (β: -0.58; P = 0.017), poor appetite (β: -1.52; P = 0.000), basal oral dysphagia (OR: 2.72; P = 0.010), signs of impaired efficacy of swallowing (OR: 2.73; P = 0.015), and institutionalization (β: -1.89; P < 0.001). These risk factors for malnutrition in older adults may be considered by health care professionals when developing new integrated assessment instruments to identify older adults' risk of malnutrition and to support the development of preventive and treatment strategies.

Although it is generally accepted that adverse forces can impair osseointegration, the mechanism of this complication is unknown. In this study, static and dynamic loads were applied on 10 mm long implants (Brånemark System, Nobel Biocare, Sweden) installed bicortically in rabbit tibiae to investigate the bone response. Each of 10 adult New Zealand black rabbits had one statically loaded implant (with a transverse force of 29.4 N applied on a distance of 1.5 mm from the top of the implant, resulting in a bending moment of 4.4 Ncm), one dynamically loaded implant (with a transverse force of 14.7 N applied on a distance of 50 mm from the top of the implant, resulting in a bending moment of 73.5 Ncm, 2.520 cycles in total, applied with a frequency of 1 Hz), and one unloaded control implant. The loading was performed during 14 days. A numerical model was used as a guideline for the applied dynamic load. Histomorphometrical quantifications of the bone to metal contact area and bone density lateral to the implant were performed on undecalcified and toluidine blue stained sections. The histological picture was similar for statically loaded and control implants. Dense cortical lamellar bone was present around the marginal and apical part of the latter implants with no signs of bone loss. Crater-shaped bone defects and Howship's lacunae were explicit signs of bone resorption in the marginal bone area around the dynamically loaded implants. Despite those bone defects, bone islands were present in contact with the implant surface in this marginal area. This resulted in no significantly lower bone-to-implant contact around the dynamically loaded implants in comparison with the statically loaded and the control implants. However, when comparing the amount of bone in the immediate surroundings of the marginal part of the implants, significantly (P < 0.007) less bone volume (density) was present around the dynamically loaded in comparison with the statically loaded and the control implants. This study shows that excessive dynamic loads cause crater-like bone defects lateral to osseointegrated implants.

The implant-abutment connection design did not significantly influence the biomechanical environment of immediately placed implants. Avoiding implant overloading and ensuring a sufficient initial intraosseous stability are the most relevant parameters for the promotion of a safe biomechanical environment in this protocol.

Since loading is increasingly believed to be a determining factor in the treatment outcome with oral implants, there is a need to expand the knowledge related to the biomechanics of oral implants. The aim of this study is to gain insight in the distribution and magnitude of occlusal forces on oral implants carrying fixed prostheses. This is done by in vivo quantification and qualification of these forces, which implies that not only the magnitude of the load but also its type (axial force or bending moment) will be registered. A total of 13 patients with an implant supported fixed full prosthesis were selected. Occlusal forces on the supporting implants were quantified and qualified during controlled load application of 50 N on several positions along the occlusal surface of the prostheses and during maximal biting in maximal occlusion by use of strain gauged abutments. The test was conducted when the prostheses were supported by all (5 or 6) implants and was repeated when the prostheses were supported by 4 and by 3 implants only. Despite considerable inter-individual variation, clear differences in implant loading between these test conditions were seen. Loading of the extension parts of the prostheses caused a hinging effect which induced considerable compressive forces on the implants closest to the place of load application and lower compressive or tensile forces on other implants. On average, higher forces were observed with a decreasing number of supporting implants. Bending moments were highest when 3 implants only were used.

The purpose of this study was to predict the outcome of implant restorations in the treatment of partial edentulism, taking into account implant interdependency and the effect of several confounding variables. Between December 1982 and June 1998, 1956 Brånemark system implants (1212 and 744 in the maxilla and mandible, respectively, 846 distal to first premolars) were installed in 660 patients (248 males) at the Department of Periodontology of the University Hospitals of the Catholic University of Leuven. Of the 810 restorations installed at the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry of the same hospital, 235 were single crowns, 166 were supported by implants and teeth and 409 were free-standing fixed partial prostheses. An additional 87 restorations was placed in private dental offices and were not included. The patients were followed from implant installation until June 1999. The estimated cumulative survival rates were 91.4% for all implants and 95.8% for all restorations over a period of 16 years. Estimated cumulative survival rates from loading for implant-tooth connected and free-standing implants were, respectively, 93.6% and 97.2%. Neither jaw site nor implant position (anterior-posterior) had any significant effect on the outcome. Short implant length, high number of implants per patient, low number of implants per prosthesis, implants loaded by acrylic-veneered restorations and implants combined with bone grafting present a higher risk hazard for implant failure. The idea of not splinting the implants in a fixed partial prosthesis is promising but needs replication before accepting it.