title: A case report of a TPS dental implant rigidly connected to a natural tooth: 19-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A partial edentulous area was restored with a tooth to implant fixed partial denture and a rigid connection between the two elements. Maintenance recalls were performed over a 19-year period of observation on a yearly basis.
  
  
  METHODS
  THE FOLLOWING PARAMETERS WERE COLLECTED DURING EACH EXAMINATION OVER THE ENTIRE PERIOD OF OBSERVATION: PD around the implant and natural tooth abutment, gingival index, modified gingival index, plaque index, modified plaque index, occlusal assessment, marginal bone loss. Radiographic assessment of peri-implant bone remodeling was performed in a retrospective way. The following reference points were assessed on each image: fixture-abutment junction, threads, first contact of the crestal bone with the implant on both mesial and distal side. This made possible, with the known values for implant diameter and length, to make linear measurements of remaining peri-implant bone measured from the mesial and distal marginal bone levels and the fixture-abutment junction. The amount of bone change over the baseline to a 19 years follow-up observation time was calculated for both the implant and the natural tooth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical parameters showed healthy values over the entire period of observation with slight isolated positive bleeding on probing. Bone remodeling values were constant over the entire period with slight higher values around the tooth. Peri-apical radiographs did not show any intrusion of the tooth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present case report showed the complete functionality and stability of a tooth to implant rigidly connected FPD over a period of 19 years.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, "Politecnica delle Marche" University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quaranta
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillo-facial Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ottavia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillo-facial Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Iole
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vozza
keywords: dental implants; follow-up; natural tooth; rigid connection