Alveloar ridges of limited dimensions could preclude the placement of dental implants of the regular dimension. Smaller diameter implants - narrow platform (NP) implants were commercially available to address this issue. The aim of the study was to determine the 5-year clinical performance of 3.3 mm diameter NP implants. Twenty-three machined screw-shaped NP implants were placed in nine patients (six males; three females) between 18 and 70 years of age. Clinical and radiographic examinations were performed annually for 5 years. Recognized implant success criteria was used. The criteria were based on the mean marginal alveolar bone loss, the placement of prosthesis of satisfactory appearance, and the absence of implant mobility, peri-implant radiolucency, pain, discomfort or infection. One implant failed at abutment connection. The remaining 22 implants were restored and functioned successfully according to the criteria. The mean marginal alveolar bone loss during the first year was 0.41 +/- 0.17 mm. The mean marginal alveolar bone loss between the second and fifth year was 0.03 +/- 0.06 mm. The success rate of NP implants according to a well-established set of criteria was 96%.

The microorganisms associated with mandibular third molar pericoronitis were investigated using direct microscopy and anaerobic culture method. The pericoronal pouch was sampled with paper points in A) 8 patients without mandibular third molar pericoronitis and B) 6 patients with mandibular third molar pericoronitis. Under the microscope, the microflora was found to be a complex mixture comprising gram-positive and gram-negative cocci, rods and filaments (including fusiform and curved rods), motile rods and spirochetes. Significantly higher proportions of motile, gram-negative rods were found in group B than in group A. The predominant cultivable microflora of 9 samples: A (4) and B (5) comprised several species of facultative and obligate anaerobic bacteria, namely Peptostreptococcus, Streptococcus, Actinomyces, Eubacterium, Propionibacterium, Veillonella, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, Bacteriodes, Fusobacterium, Campylobacter, Staphylococcus, Stomatococcus, Lactobacillus, Neisseria, Capnocytophaga, Haemophilus, Selenomonas and Centipeda species. The microflora in pericoronitis appeared similar to that of diseased periodontal pockets.

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