In the BASIC RESEARCH session, researchers from Parma University presented an in vivo study on titanium disks with the UTM surface typical of all Sweden & Martina implant necks, and particularly associated with the conical neck of PRAMA implants, on other disks with the more pronounced micro-threading of XA posts, also conical in form, and on disks with a machined surface as control. Using complex genic expression analysis, this research demonstrated that both kinds of micro-threaded surface modulate myofibroblasts, leading, in vivo, to the production of an oriented cellular matrix and to more rapid healing of soft tissue. This is an important confirmation to the clinical evidence and the excellent aesthetic results that thousands of clinicians have already achieved around the Prama implant neck and around XA posts.
But is this only because of micro-threading?
The remaining three presentations, clinical in nature, analysed other characteristic shared by the Prama neck and XA posts, both conical in form. In the CLINICAL RESEARCH – PROSTHETICS session, Dr. Luigi Canullo presented the results of a 5-year prospective study that followed a group of 22 patients restored using conical, platform switched posts and the One abutment - One time technique. This research demonstrated that the combination of these 3 characteristics contributes to the preservation of marginal bone and permits the growth and maintenance of stable and healthy soft tissue.
Similar conclusions were reached by a research group from Geneva University, headed by Prof. Barone. Two posters were presented, illustrating the results of two clinical trials involving Prama implants in healthy patients and in patients suffering from systemic diseases that demand multiple pharmacological treatments. In both trials, use of the Prama implant, with its unique conical transgingival neck, gave excellent results in terms of hard and soft tissue, and in particular led to an increase in the thickness of keratinized mucosa, helping to maintain aesthetic results over time.
In addition to the 4 works mentioned, the EAO congress also saw the presentation of a poster by Drs. Lazzarini and Cannizzaro focusing on Syra external hexagon conical implants. This work demonstrated that, when used in single flapless rehabilitation with immediate loading, Syra implants are surgically reliable both in the version with ZirTi surface and UTM neck, and in the machined version with UTM neck.
Read the original abstracts here
