%0 Journal Article
%T Tooth-Implant Connection: A Review
%A Serhat Ramoglu
%A Simge Tasar
%A Selim Gunsoy
%A Oguz Ozan
%A Gokce Meric
%J ISRN Biomaterials
%D 2013
%R 10.5402/2013/921645
%X Connecting teeth to osseointegrated implants presents a biomechanical challenge. This is due to the implant being rigidly fixed to the bone and the tooth being attached to the bone with a periodontal ligament. In order to overcome this problem, various connection types such as rigid and nonrigid have been proposed. However, the mechanism of attachment and the perceived problem of the differential support provided by the implant and the tooth have been discussed by many authors, and the ideal connection type is still controversial. The aim of this study was to carry out a review of all available literature addressing the tooth-implant connection and evidence-based understanding of the management of tooth-implant-retained restorations. 1. Introduction Multiple missing teeth may possibly be restored with a conventional tooth-supported bridge, with a tooth-supported bridge with cantilevers, with a resin-bonded bridge, with implant-supported single crowns, with an implant-supported bridge or with a combined tooth-implant-supported bridge. However, the combination of teeth and implants for the support of fixed partial dentures has been investigated in many studies but remains controversial. Nevertheless, in some cases because of anatomic limitations or a lack of osseintegration which may affect the planning, they may be associated with natural tooth abutments in the same prosthetic restoration. Several long-term clinical and laboratory studies have concluded that a tooth-implant relation should provide a desired success if relevant factors were taken into account by the clinicians [1¨C3]. The objective of this literature review was to investigate the long-term outcomes of restorations supported by implants and natural teeth with regard to complications associated with implants, teeth, and restorations, as well as the influence on these parameters of the connector type used. 2. Differences between Dental Implants and Teeth Primary function of dental implants is to support the prosthetic restorations as a root of natural teeth. Dentists make an effort to assimilate the form and structure of implant-supported prosthesis to natural teeth. Nevermore, it has to be take in account that between these systems which supports prosthesis, have notable differences. Kim et al. [4] and Misch [5], compared natural teeth and implants and main differences between these two structures were summed up in Table 1. Table 1: Differences between dental implants and teeth [ 5]. 3. Comparison of Biomechanics of Implants and Teeth Relation of natural teeth with bone tissue; is designated
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.biomaterials/2013/921645/