A study on the changes in attractive force of magnetic attachments for overdenture
PURPOSE Although magnetic attachment is used frequently for overdenture, it is reported that attractive force can be decreased by abrasion and corrosion. The purpose of this study was to establish the clinical basis about considerations and long term prognosis of overdenture using magnetic attachments by investigating the change in attractive force of magnetic attachment applied to the patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Among the patients treated with overdenture using magnetic attachments in Dankook University Dental Hospital, attractive force records of 61 magnetic attachments of 20 subjects who re-visited from July 2013 to June 2014 were analyzed. Dental magnet tester (Aichi Micro Intelligent Co., Aichi, Japan) was used for measurement. The magnetic attachments used in this study were Magfit IP-B Flat, Magfit DX400, Magfit DX600 and Magfit DX800 (Aichi Steel Co., Aichi, Japan) filled with Neodymium (NdFeB), a rare-earth magnet. RESULTS Reduction ratio of attractive force had no significant correlation with conditional variables to which attachments were applied, and was higher when the maintenance period was longer (P<.05, r=.361). Reduction ratio of attractive force was significantly higher in the subject group in which attachments were used over 9 years than within 9 years (P<.05). Furthermore, 16.39% of total magnetic attachments showed detachment of keeper or assembly. CONCLUSION Attractive force of magnetic attachment is maintained regardless of conditional variables and reduction ratio increased as the maintenance period became longer. Further study on adhesive material, attachment method and design improvement to prevent detachment of magnetic attachment is needed.
Treatment needs of overdenture patients in a longitudinal study: five-year results.
This study evaluated the treatment needs of 44 overdenture patients who had worn their dentures for at least 5 years. There were 135 abutment teeth involved, 35 in the maxillae and 100 in the mandible. Recall rates varied from a low of 27.6% to a high of 73.7%. The attrition rate was 20.5% after 5 years. The caries rate varied from a low of 2.7% to a high of 20.6%, and periodontal treatment was required by 94% of the subjects after 5 years. Only 39.4% of the subjects required adjustments, repairs, relines, or remakes of their overdentures during this time. The study showed that the success of overdentures depended on maintaining oral hygiene at an adequate level and at least yearly recalls to maintain gingival health.
Unidirectional hexagonal rare-earth disilicide nanowires on vicinal Si(100)-2×1
Rare-earth disilicide nanowires grown on vicinal Si(100) with a miscut of 2–2.5° toward the [110] azimuth at 600 °C were studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and compared with those grown on flat Si(001). In contrast to rare-earth disilicide nanowires grown on flat Si(100) surfaces, the nanowires grow unidirectionally along the [01̄1] direction of the vicinal Si(100) surface. Rare-earth disilicide nanowires form bundles composed of single nanowire units on both flat and vicinal surfaces. Yet, on the vicinal surface, the bundle width is comparable to the width of the terrace. The average nanowire length on the vicinal substrate is longer than that on the flat substrate. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy shows that the rare-earth disilicide nanowires have metallic properties.