JEFF WYSCARVER
Prevent Implant
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here is a simple test
which can be administered
that identifies those patients
at risk for implant over-
loading. The test involves
measuring the following pa-
rameters: SPO2, Heart Rate,
Snoring, Body Position and
Surface EMG while the pa-
tient sleeps at home. Once
these “At Risk” patients are
identified appropriate over-
loading counter measures
can be taken. Appropriate
Overloading Counter Mea-
sures can take a variety of
forms from positional ther-
apy to dual arch guards to
sleep appliances. Wouldn’t
it be nice to cut the risk
of implant failure by two
thirds simply assessing and
identifying at risk patients
then managing appropri-
ately?
Implant overloading rep-
resents the most significant
risk to the structural integ-
rity of implants. The gener-
al risk to structural failure
is 4% in non-bruxers and 13%
in patient diagnosed with
bruxism. It is also becom-
ing increasingly clear a
number of implant patients
with airway dysfunction as
a primary trigger to para-
function and bruxism is
the primary cause of tooth
structural failure. Further
complicating the issue is
JEFF WYSCARVER, RPSGT
Jeff Wyscarver, RPSGT.,
has been the President of
DDME for the past 7 years
and has been actively de-
veloping products for den-
tists to manage airway
related parafunction and
bruxism.
the most common remedy
for managing overloading
risks is an occlusal guard
which studies have shown