Clinical study on the food impaction between implant prostheses and adjacent teeth

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the food impaction between implant prostheses and adjacent natural teeth. Materials and methods: For this study, 51 patients with food impaction were selected and investigated mobility, tightness of contact area, gingival index, plaque index, attachment loss, alveolar bone level, proximal caries, marginal ridge distance and occlusal relationships. Results: Food impaction was found in the upper teeth (60.7%) more than the lower teeth (39.2%). Food impaction was occurred on mesial side of implant prostheses (86.2%) more than distal side (13.7%). Food impaction was mostly found in loose or open contact area (94.2%). Food impaction was frequent on stepped relationship between implant and adjacent teeth. Conclusion: Treatment plan should include proper adjacent and antagonistic occlusal plane and occlusal surface, to prevent food impaction, and the plan should include less adjacent tooth mobility with proper tightness between implant prostheses and adjacent teeth. (J Korean Acad Prosthodont 2014;52:27-33)