The ball welding bar: a new solution for the immediate loading of screw-retained, mandibular fixed full arch prostheses

ISRCTN ISRCTN71229338
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN71229338
Secondary identifying numbers 0001
Submission date
19/06/2017
Registration date
27/06/2017
Last edited
25/08/2017
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Oral Health
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Complete mandibular edentulism is the condition where all of the lower teeth are missing. It is a difficult condition for patients because complete removable dental prostheses (dentures) are extremely difficult to wear, move during chewing, lack stability and cause pain/discomfort when eating. A possible solution to stabilize the complete prostheses is to place dental implants in the mandible (lower jaw). Dental implants are titanium fixtures that can be placed in the bone to support the prosthesis and stabilize it, preventing movement and discomfort when eating. In order to obtain better stability of the prosthesis over the implants, the implants can be splinted by means of a bar to support the prosthesis. Conventionally, making a bar to support the prosthesis is a procedure that involves different laboratory steps, with a longer treatment time and higher costs for the patients. As an alternative, and in order to reduce the laboratory steps and time for this treatment, different welding techniques have been proposed for creating the bar inside the mouth of the patients. These techniques can be highly successful. In this study, a new technique for the making a mandibular bar is tested, the ball welding bar. The ball welding bar consists of smooth prosthetic cylinders, interconnected by titanium bars which are adjustable in terms of distance from the ball terminals and inserted into the rotating rings of the cylinders. All the components are welded and self-posing.

Who can participate?
Patients with complete mandibular edentulism and problems related to their complete, removable conventional dentures (i.e. lack of stability, discomfort during eating and aesthetic embarrassment)

What does the study involve?
All participants are treated using the new ball welding bar technique and are followed for a 2-year period in order to assess the survival of the implants and the success of this technique.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The ball welding bar technique can simplify the creation of mandibular bars, reducing time and costs, with clear benefits for the patients. For the dentists, the main advantages of this method are that it makes it easy to centre the bars over the bone crest, allows for fine regulation, and makes it easy to solder the framework without distortions. Finally, the procedure is very rapid and can be managed by a single operator, both of which allow for reduced rehabilitation costs.

Where is the study run from?
1. Studio Dentistico Guida (Italy)
2. Studio Dentistico Dr. Bacchiocchi (Italy)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2010 to December 2015

Who is funding the study?
Studio Dentistico Dr Andrea Guida (Italy)

Who is the main contact?
Prof. Andrea Guida
prof.guida@yahoo.it

Contact information

Prof Andrea Guida
Scientific

via Sartena 9
Lido di Ostia (RM)
00122
Italy

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-1462-7205
Phone +39 (0)6 562 3973
Email prof.guida@yahoo.it

Study information

Study designNon-randomised study
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designNon randomised study
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleThe ball welding bar: a new solution for the immediate loading of screw-retained, mandibular fixed full arch prostheses
Study acronymBWB
Study objectivesThe purpose of this study was to present a new intraoral welding technique, and in particular a new method for the fabrication of a bar (the ball welding bar) that can be used to support screw-retained, mandibular fixed full arch prostheses.
Ethics approval(s)Fundacao Universitaria Vida Crista (FUNVIC) Institutional Board, 25/01/2010
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedImplant prosthodontics
InterventionIn the period between January 2010 and December 2013, all patients with complete mandibular edentulism or irreparably compromised mandibular dentition, who were referred to two different private dental centres patients for restoration of the masticatory function with a fixed mandibular prosthesis supported by dental implants, were treated with the new ball welding bar technique. The patients were then followed for a 2-year period, in order to evaluate the survival of the implants and the success of this technique.
Intervention typeProcedure/Surgery
Primary outcome measureImplant survival, i.e. the clinical condition in which the implants are still in function in the patients' mouth, at the end of the 2-year follow-up period
Secondary outcome measuresProsthetic success, i.e. the clinical condition in which no adverse events or complications (such as fractures/alterations of the resin superstructure and of the intraorally welded titanium framework) occur at the prosthesis level, assessed at the end of the 2-year follow-up period
Overall study start date01/01/2010
Completion date31/12/2015

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants40-50
Key inclusion criteria1. Complete mandibular edentulism, with functional and aesthetic problems related to the presence of a complete, removable conventional denture (i.e. lack of stability of the complete denture, discomfort during function and aesthetic embarrassment)
2. Irreparably compromised mandibular dentition, due to advanced periodontal disease or destructive/massive tooth decay, that made the residual dental elements unrestorable
3. Sufficient bone volume (bone height x width) to allow for the placement of implants of at least 8 mm in length and 3.0 mm in diameter
4. Will to restore the masticatory function with a fixed mandibular prosthesis supported by dental implants
5. Ability to understand and sign an informed consent form for implant treatment.
Key exclusion criteria1. General medical conditions/systemic diseases that represented an absolute contraindication to surgical and implant treatment, such as severely immunocompromised patients or severely uncompensated diabetics, patients receiving radiotherapy to the head and neck area or chemotherapy, patients receiving amino-bisphosphonates intravenously and/or orally
2. Psychiatric disorders
3. Addicted to alcohol or drugs
4. Needed bone augmentation procedures with autogenous bone or other bone substitutes, to allow for proper implant insertion
5. Previously undergone major regenerative bone surgery, preliminary to the placement of dental implants
Date of first enrolment01/01/2010
Date of final enrolment31/12/2013

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Italy

Study participating centres

Studio Dentistico Guida
via Sartena 9
Lido di Ostia (Roma)
00122
Italy
Studio Dentistico Dr. Bacchiocchi
Via Gaetano Donizetti 2
Castelfidardo (AN)
60022
Italy

Sponsor information

Studio Dentistico Dr Andrea Guida
Hospital/treatment centre

via Sartena 9
Lido di Ostia (RM)
00122
Italy

Phone +39 (0)6 562 3973
Email ostia@sorridental.it

Funders

Funder type

Hospital/treatment centre

Studio Dentistico Dr Andrea Guida

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date30/07/2017
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Prof. Andrea Guida (prof.guida@outlook.it).

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/05/2017 Yes No

Editorial Notes

25/08/2017: Publication reference added.