DR. CARL DRAGO COAUTHORS INTERNATIONAL STUDY ABOUT MAXILLARY IMPLANT SUPPORTED FIXED PROSTHESIS

Last month, Dr. Carl Drago of the United States and his colleagues in Italy, published an article in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry titled, "The influence of cantilever length and implant inclination on stress distribution in maxillary implant supported fixed dentures."

The purpose of the study was to compare and analyze, via 3-dimensional (3-D) finite element analysis, stresses transmitted to tilted versus vertical implants and the surrounding periimplant bone in the maxillae. A 3-D edentulous maxillary model was created using customized computer software (FEMAP 8.3). Four implants were virtually placed in the premaxilla and splinted with an FD. Keeping the prosthesis length constant, 4 different configurations were evaluated with the distal implants inclined 0, 15, 30, and 45 degrees; cantilever extensions were 13, 9, 5, and 0 mm, respectively. A vertical load (150 N) was applied to the distal portion of the posterior cantilevers. Von Mises' stress values transmitted to periimplant bone and at the metal framework of FDs on implants were evaluated in cancellous and cortical bone. The study revealed that tilted distal implants, rigidly splinted with an FD, decrease stress in the periimplant bone and frameworks. This treatment modality seems to be a valid therapeutic alternative to conventional maxillary fixed complete prostheses supported by vertical dental implants with posterior cantilevers.

Dr. Carl Drago is a board certified prosthodontist and received his dental degree from Ohio State University College of Dentistry and a MS degree from the University Of Texas Graduate School Of Biomedical Sciences at San Antonio. He was in a practice limited to fixed, removable and implant prosthodontics for 26 years at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in LaCrosse, Wisconsin and then became the Director of Dental Research for Biomet 3i. Dr. Drago is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and has joined Eon Clinics' as the Clinical Director at their newest "all-in-one" dental implant center opening this summer in Waukesha, WI.

Dr. Drago has published over 65 papers on multiple subjects in prosthodontics, written three textbooks on dental implants and lectured nationally and internationally. He is currently the Clinical Science section editor for the Journal of Prosthodontics.

SUMMARY: Dr. Carl Drago of the United States and his colleagues in Italy, published an article in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry titled, "The influence of cantilever length and implant inclination on stress distribution in maxillary implant supported fixed dentures."