Background This study assessed retrospectively the clinical outcomes of single implant-supported crowns and implant-supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs). Methods This case series compared biological and technical complications in single implant-supported crowns and implant-supported bridges in a time framed sample of all patients who received dental implants between 2009 and 2016 in Dubai Health Authority. Only 3-unit implant-supported prostheses (FDPs) with one intervening pontic and an implant each end were included for comparison to single crown supported implants. Cantilevered implants, implant-supported dentures and cases involving bone grafts or sinus lifts were excluded. The primary outcome measure was marginal bone loss, measured on digital radiographs taken after prosthesis placement at baseline and one year after implant loading, whilst peri-implantitis and technical complications were secondary outcomes. Mixed regression models adjusted for clustering of implants within patients was used for patient and implant factor associations. Results A total of 454 patients (152 males; 302 females) had 1673 implants. The mean age of males (53.7 years, SD 14.6) was significantly greater than females (49.3 years, SD 12.9, p < 0.001). Mean mesial bone loss on the FDPs was significantly greater at 1 year (1.14 mm, SD 0.63) compared with the mesial surface of single implant-supported crowns (0.30 mm, SD 0.43, p < 0.001). Mean distal bone loss was also significantly greater at 1 year on the distal surfaces of implants supporting bridgework (1.29 mm, SD 0.71) compared with distal surfaces on single implant-supported crowns (0.36 mm, SD 0.54, p < 0.001). Mean marginal bone loss mesially and distally around implants placed in the lower anterior sextant was significantly greater compared to all other sites (p < 0.001). Bone loss by gender, patient’s age and medical condition was not different between the 2 implant groups. Screw loosening was the main technical complication (11.5%) whilst peri-implantitis occurred rarely (0.5%). The 66 cement retained implants had significantly more complications compared to the 1607 screw retained implants (p < 0.001). Conclusions Mean marginal bone loss around the supporting implants of FDPs (3-unit fixed bridgework) was greater than on single implant-supported crowns at one year after implant loading. Position in the mouth was associated with bone loss. Biological and technical complications occurred rarely.

A female, aged 55 years, was presented to the clinic concerned with her inability to function properly due to missing teeth and collapse of her vertical dimension. On examination, remaining tooth position of the upper arch was favorable for telescopic denture and remaining tooth position of the lower arch was favorable for removable prosthesis. The patient requested an aesthetic maxillary and mandibular denture with no visible metal clasps on smiling. Therefore, upper telescopic removable complete denture and lower chrome cobalt removable prostheses were suggested to the patient as conservative treatment to reestablish her occlusal vertical dimension and restore her aesthetics and function.

Tooth discoloration with pronounced white color lesions within the enamel are often insufficiently masked by bleaching techniques or resin infiltration procedure alone. This frequently leads to select more invasive prosthetic restoration in order to mask the tooth color such as veneer and crowns. This article describes a minimally invasive treatment options to manage anterior tooth discoloration with suspected developmental origin. A combination of resin infiltration procedure and composite restoration was used to attain a natural tooth color. By joining the two minimally and noninvasive techniques, patient’s aesthetic expectations were met and preservation of hard tooth structure was managed. The benefits of this technique are ease of adaptation and repair in future.