Percent metal-free and reversibly screwable abutments for removable dentures. They are available in heights of 2, 3 and 4 mm and fit on all Zeramex XT SB, RB and WB implants (Fig. 6 to 9).

In order to further optimize the digital workflow, a smaller adhesive base has recently become available. Like the Zerabase adhesive base, the new Zerabase X is also available with and without abutment feet (Figs. 10 and 11) for single crowns or bridge restorations (engaged / unengaged) as well as for all SB, RB and WB platforms.

“Zeramex now offers the most comprehensive range in ceramic implantology to achieve natural aesthetic results,” explains Dr. Ricarda Jansen, Director of Dental Implants at Zeramex. The innovations SB implants, Zeramex Docklocs abutments and the new Zerabase X adhesive base are available now.

Then the thread cutting protocol followed. With this arrangement, Zeratap wide with 5.5 mm (Fig. Step, everything for inserting the 4 and 5) is prepared after the surgical implant.

Look at what are called COVID-19 comorbidities: heart disease, diabetes, respiratory complications, and hypertension. Those diseases are similar to comorbidities that we find in periodontal disease. If I were to rank them, it is heart disease, followed by diabetes, followed by respiratory diseases, and others. We have tons of studies showing the links. We have links to asthma. We have links to lung infections. We have studies about respiratory deaths in nursing homes where roughly 10% of all deaths in nursing homes have a comorbidity of severe periodontitis. So, we know the science is there, and we know the link is inflammation.

I still believe that many dental practitioners do not appreciate that what results in death is not only the COVID-19 virus, but the inflammatory reaction to the virus. That’s really creating the sepsis that is considered the cytokine storm to the system.

During the dental shutdown time, the patient’s oral hygiene was not being reinforced for three months. For our perio patients, debridement was not being performed. And if they’re already susceptible to heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory diseases, we have to make sure we are being more vigilant than ever before.

Q: I know we talked about the value of lasers in the dental practice recently. What are you hearing about this technology now and its effect on periodontal disease?

A: We know that patients with moderate to severe periodontitis may not seek referrals with periodontists. There are multiple reasons for that, but that also means that the general dentist needs to widen what he or she does and increase the capacity to manage periodontitis. Dentists can’t manage moderate to severe periodontitis nonsurgically unless they want to take a risk.

My point is that the advent of lasers such as the Waterlase (Biolase) is now allowing dentists to manage moderate and even sometimes severe periodontitis with all-tissue lasers in a minimally invasive fashion. It suggests that more people are getting care, without the fear of gum surgery. And it also means we’re losing fewer teeth. Dental lasers can help dentists treat periodontitis and make patients more willing to receive treatment. In fact, recent data from the McGuire study published in the Journal of Periodontology demonstrate how the Repair Perio protocol is superior in procedure time and patient-reported outcomes such as swelling and bruising to traditional periodontal treatment.

Additionally, with a diode laser, like the Epic Hygiene (Biolase) for the dental hygienist, there’s a decrease in aerosols so that they don’t have to rely as much on the ultrasonic. Therefore, from a hygiene standpoint, the laser comes into play.

One of my colleagues, Dr. Scott Froum, recently stood in front of an audience and simply said, “A periodontist must have a laser if you want to save teeth.” He is very much into saving teeth now, as we all are, but he showed case after case after case that now, from a minimally invasive standpoint, we can connect the dots between laser usage and better patient care.