Biomedical subjects
C J Drago
Publications and source records attributed to C J Drago.
Prepable ceramic abutments: principles and techniques for the dental laboratory technician.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Use of osseointegrated implants in adult orthodontic treatment: a clinical report.
This article describes the complex dental treatment of an adult patient with multiple missing teeth, mild periodontitis, and a malocclusion. Titanium implants were placed in the posterior mandibular edentulous segments and became osseointegrated. The placement of the mandibular implants was originally designed for orthodontic anchorage. The mandibular implants would subsequently be used for implant-retained crowns on completion of orthodontic treatment. After a 4-month healing period, an impression was made of the implant hexes and a master cast was formed. Two-piece temporary healing abutments were placed on the implants and used to retain orthodontic brackets. The orthodontist retracted the mandibular anterior teeth using the posterior implants for anchorage. The abutment screws of the 2-piece temporary healing abutments were tightened to 20 N-cm at the insertion appointment and did not need to be tightened again during the course of orthodontic therapy. Standard orthodontic brackets were cemented to the 2-piece temporary healing abutments. Orthodontic treatment was accomplished uneventfully. Prosthodontic treatment was completed using the osseointegrated implants to replace the missing teeth. The methods described in this clinical report present clinicians with additional choices in the treatment of complex dental disease using osseointegrated dental implants.
Clinical and laboratory parameters in fixed prosthodontic treatment.
Prosthodontic treatment demands competence from each member of the professional team; this includes the staff of the dental office and the dental laboratory. Members of the dental team should understand their responsibility to each other and their patients to ensure optimal prosthodontic care. Knowledge of individual limitations are critical, as are two specific attributes of technical success, quality and communication. The dentist and dental technician should provide services in concert, practice mutual respect, and encourage each other to critique results. Successful prosthodontic treatment also represents a collaborative effort between the patient and attending dentist. Because specific limitations exist with various treatment options, patients need to make decisions concerning their treatment on the basis of detailed informed consent comprehensively presented by the dentist. This article illustrates examples of fixed prosthodontic treatments and demonstrates collaborative, professional responsibilities of the dentist and dental laboratory technicians.
Procedure to predictably seat multiple, hexed abutments onto endosseous implants: a clinical report.
The use of implants to restore the dentition of partially edentulous patients has increased over the past several years. Optimal esthetic results depend on satisfactory implant placement. Occasionally, implants are placed in less than optimal positions, which may require modification in the prosthesis design and increase the technical difficulty. In these instances, preangled or customized abutments can be used. If more than one of these abutments has to be used, accurate orientation of the hexed components to the implants and each other may be a problem. This clinical report illustrated a simple, inexpensive procedure to transfer the orientation of two or more hexed abutments from a master cast to the mouth. This procedure reduced the time needed to orient the hexed abutments correctly in laboratory and clinical situations. It may also reduce the chances of the patient aspirating or swallowing abutments or screws.
Prosthodontic complications related to compromised implant placement.
Successful prosthodontic treatment is dependent on optimal placement of the endosseous implants. This article describes prosthodontic problems associated with nonoptimal implant placement and suggests clinical guidelines to minimize recurrence of these problems.
A laboratory technique for fabricating single tooth implant restorations with optimal subgingival contours.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Rates of osseointegration of dental implants with regard to anatomical location.
PURPOSE: Implantation of commercially pure titanium dental implants can be obtained predictably and consistently. The initial research focused on the edentulous population, with most of the fixtures being placed into the anterior mandibular area. There has been increased use of dental implants for partially edentulous patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study reports the results of 169 consecutively treated patients with 673 fixtures. Patients were observed for 7 months to 8 years following occlusal loading. RESULTS: Implant osseointegration was 89.1% in the anterior maxillae; 71.4% in the posterior maxillae; 96.7% in the anterior mandible; and 98.7% in the posterior mandible. CONCLUSION: Osseointegration may be most dependent on anatomical location in the jaws.
Chairside and laboratory procedures for soldering implant retained frameworks.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Tarnish and corrosion with the use of intraoral magnets.
Intraoral magnets are small enough and provide sufficient retentive forces to be used in various prosthodontic procedures. This study described 25 patients with 60 magnetic attachments. All implant abutments gave evidence of tarnish, as did 68% of the magnetic keepers in patients with natural teeth. Corrosion was found in 41.7% of the magnetic keepers. Although 88% of the patients were satisfied at 3 months, only 28% were satisfied at 2 years. Rare earth magnets probably can be used for retention of removable prostheses. However, the magnets are likely to tarnish and corrode, making them unacceptable for use intraorally at this time.
Criteria for selecting alloys in fixed prosthodontics.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Splinting of compromised teeth with composite resin.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Prosthodontic rehabilitation of patients with Class II malocclusions.
The Angle's class II malocclusion patient challenges the prosthodontist because optimal treatment may include orthodontic therapy, orthognathic surgery, periodontics, and fixed or removable prosthodontics. Compromises in the treatment plan are necessary when patients cannot accept optimal dental treatment. However, specific prosthodontic principles should be observed. This article discusses Angle's class II malocclusions, including the theories and therapies to treat patients with this malrelationship successfully. Prosthodontic management of the malocclusion is an adjunct to other care rendered.
The use of stainless steel keepers for tissue-integrated prostheses.
Dentists treating patients with complete tissue-integrated prostheses need a way of converting the preexisting transitional complete denture to a fixture-supported denture. Gold cylinders 3 to 5 mm in vertical height can be used after the abutments are connected to the fixtures at the second surgical appointment. However, because of their size, the cylinders require extensive relief of the denture base. Stainless steel keepers 1 mm in vertical height can be used instead. They require less relief inside the denture, reduce the likelihood of fracture of the denture base, and minimize the risk of aspiration or swallowing because the keeper is a one-piece system and the gold cylinders require the use of a small gold screw with each cylinder.
Bruxism and its effect on the natural teeth.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Irreversible hydrocolloid impressions for full-banded orthodontic patients.
A technique has been described to obtain intact accurate irreversible hydrocolloid impressions in patients who are in the process of full-banded orthodontic therapy. When this technique is used, the maxillary and mandibular casts are produced with sufficient accuracy to make a maxillary occlusal splint that requires minimal adjustment.
Dental diagnosis and treatment of chronic vomiting patients.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Experimental occlusal discrepancies and nocturnal bruxism.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.