Estimating implant survival isn’t necessarily complex, but it wouldn’t be considered simple either. When determining how long a dental implant is likely to last, a Kaplan-Meier analysis is typically used. This strategy allows periodontists to accurately estimate the lifespan of the implant under a variety of different conditions. The Kaplan-Meier analysis is one of the most commonly used methods of survival analysis. The estimate is often useful in many situations, particularly in the medical field. For example, it can be used to examine recovery rates, the likelihood of death in certain circumstances, and whether or not a treatment was effective. The Kaplan-Meier analysis is a statistic, and many estimators are used to gauge its variance. A common estimator is Greenwood’s formula. Naturally, patients want their implants to last as long as possible, making calculating implant survival with a number of variables clinically applicable.
Glossary
Keratinized gingival
The keratinized gingival is the part of the oral mucosa which covers the gingiva and hard palate. It extends from the free gingival margin to the mucogingival junction and consists of the free gingiva as well as the attached gingiva. The width of keratinized gingiva is an important factor when it comes to dental implants. This is because keratinized gingival tissue can play a role in the long-term support of the implant. It may also aid in maintaining oral health, in preventing gum recession, and in overall esthetics. Due to this, the keratinized tissue of the gums around a tooth or implant may require a tissue or skin graft prior to any dental procedures. Such a graft will assist with gum health as well as implant stability. Maintaining the health of the keratinized gingival is important for both the function and look of a patient’s implants.
Knife-edge ridge
After a tooth is extracted, the residual alveolar ridge undergoes a remodeling process to repair the initial wound and prepare for long-term healing, or residual ridge resorption (RRR). Residual ridge resorption occurs at markedly different rates for each patient, which can make treatment planning more challenging. Faster bone resorption at the lingual or buccal areas can result in a knife-edge ridge. Faster bone resorption at the crest of the residual bone, on the other hand, results in a more flattened ridge. A knife-edge ridge can be difficult to detect under round gum tissue, but identifying the shape of the residual alveolar bone is essential to the patient’s individual treatment plan. Treatment for a knife-edge ridge may involve removal of the thin bone structure to help the dental implant hardware better adapt at the shoulder level. It’s often difficult to predict which patients will have a knife-edge ridge, but menopause is considered a contributing factor.