title: [Changes of abutment alveolar height after Stern ERA attachment restoration].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the alveolar height changes of the distal abutments in Kennedy II dentition defect restored with Stern ERA attachment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one Kennedy II dentition defect patients restored with Stern ERA attachment were observed at the day of restoration and 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after restoration. Digital panoramic radiographs were taken to measure the vertical distances from the distal and the mesial alveolar bone crest to the apical point in the distal abutments and were used to observe and compare the alveolar height changes of the distal abutments.The data was analyzed with SPSS16.0 software package for Student's t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distal and medial alveolar height of the distal abutments was not significantly reduced (P>0.05) 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after restoration with Stern ERA attachment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the digital panoramic radiograph, the alveolar height of the distal abutments in Kennedy II dentition defect restored with Stern ERA attachment was not significantly changed in 6 months after restoration. It may benefit for the the health and stability of the distal abutments by using Stern ERA attachment in Kennedy II dentition defect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Shanghai Stomatology Dental Clinic, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Rong-rong
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Xiao-jie
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000044:Dental Abutments; D003724:Dental Arch; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D006801:Humans