Tomas Linkevicius

• DDS, Dip Pros, PhD
• Professor at Vilnius University

Purpose: This is a randomized clinical trial to compare the clinical and immunological performance of ultrasmooth versus regular-smooth zirconia abutments placed subgingivally after a period of 1 year. Materials and methods: Sixty-two bone level platform-switched implants (NobelParallel CC) were placed epicrestally in the mandibular molar or pre...

Objective: Implantation and prosthodontics in the anterior zone are considered the most difficult procedures in dentistry. Creating an appropriate emergence profile is necessary to achieve both stable peri-implant tissues and esthetically acceptable outcomes with implant-supported restorations, especially when conditions are limited. This article...

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of the soft tissue augmentation vertically, using connective tissue graft from the palate, during submerged dental implant placement. Material and methods: Vertical soft tissue augmentation, using connective tissue graft from the palate, combining with submerged dental implant placement was performed for 50 p...

Objectives: To assess the impact of implant placement and temporization timing on esthetic outcomes of single maxillary anterior implants with intact bone walls and interproximal bone. Materials and methods: Test group patients received an immediate implant with immediate provisional restoration and socket preservation, while patients in the con...

Background: The use of connective tissue graft (CTG) with immediate implant placement and provisionalisation have shown promising results. It is not clear if the same outcome could be achieved using porcine-derived collagen matrix (PDCM) as grafting material. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the esthetic and functional outcomes of immediat...

Purpose: To determine the effect of 0.7- and 2.4-mm transmucosal abutment height titanium bases on the crestal bone stability and peri-implant soft tissue condition of bone-level implants with platform switching in patients with vertically thick soft tissues. Materials and methods: Sixty bone-level platform-switched implants were placed in the m...

Dantų implantai vis dažniau pasirenkami, siekiant atkurti visus ar dalį prarastų dantų. Gijimo procesas po implantacijos bei kraštinio kaulo tirpimo prevencija šiuo metu yra daugiausia dėmesio susilaukiančios temos burnos chirurgijoje. Vienas iš esminių veiksnių, siekiant geriausio rezultato − tinkamai naudojama gijimo galvutė. Manoma, kad steriliz...

This case control study measured early crestal bone changes around subcrestally placed platform-switched implants surrounded by thin soft tissue and compared them with regular, matching-platform implants placed in a supracrestal position and surrounded by thick soft tissue. Sixty-six patients received two-piece internal hex dental implants. Control...

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to survey practicing clinicians and determine if differences existed concerning their use of torque-limiting devices (TLDs) and screw-tightening protocols, comparing this with existing universal industry standards. Materials and methods: A nine-question survey was administered with 428 dentists providing da...

Development of a stable and healthy soft-tissue barrier around dental implants is key to long-term success of implant-supported prostheses. The novel two-piece abutment concept shifts the prosthetic interface to the soft-tissue level to protect bone interface/connective tissue during the healing phase and restorative procedures. This prospective st...

The cover image is based on the Original Article Influence of new immediate tissue level abutment on crestal bone stability of subcrestally placed implants. A 1‐year randomised controlled clinical trial by Tomas Linkevicius et al., https://doi.org/10.1111/cid.12979. The cover image is based on the Original Article Influence of new immediate tissue...

Purpose: To assess excess cement removal after cementation of implant-supported cementretained restorations using different cements. Materials and methods: A model with soft tissue imitation, 20 individual zirconium oxide abutments, and 20 zirconium oxide crowns were fabricated. Half of the restorations were cemented using resin cement (RX) and...

Background: The relation between implant abutment disconnection (AD) and increased crestal bone loss is still debated. Purpose: To compare bone changes below implant-abutment junction of subcrestally placed implants between: (1) implant level restorations, that underwent four ADs and (2) implants with immediate tissue level abutment with no AD,...

Objective To evaluate the amount of residual cement after cementation of implant crown‐abutments with rubber dam and retraction cord with copy abutments techniques. Material and Methods Thirty single posterior metal‐ceramic implant‐supported restorations were delivered to 20 patients. The crowns were fabricated with occlusal openings obturated wit...

Purpose: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the impact of abutment disconnections / reconnections on peri-implant marginal bone loss changes in partially edentulous patients. Methods: Clinical studies were selected via electronic and hand searches in English language journals until January 1, 2020. Only randomized...

Objectives Hydrophilic implant surfaces promote faster osseointegration of dental implants with a higher bone-implant contact (BIC) rate. Animal and in vitro studies proved that ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of titanium implants regains hydrophilicity. Clinical impact is still unclear. The objective of this RCT was to assess the removal torque (RT)...

Purpose Aims of the study were: (a) to register crestal bone loss around 1.5 mm subcrestally placed implants and epicrestally placed implants with soft tissue tenting technique, (b) to record bone remodeling in subcrestal group, and (c) to determine the increase of vertical soft tissues after tenting. Materials and methods Thirty‐two patients with...

Purpose: To evaluate the surface roughness values of zirconium oxide samples that were gradually polished using a commercially available polishing system and polishing paste. Materials and methods: A total of 50 rectangular specimens of predetermined size (10 × 10 × 3 mm) were sintered from zirconium oxide. Samples were randomly assigned to one...

Due to the forces generated during debonding enamel microcracks (EMCs), a form of teeth damage, may develop and appear morphological changes of their characteristics. The aim of the study was to determine if the predictions about the irreversible changes in the tooth structure following debonding could be made from a set of EMCs parameters (severit...

The aim of this case report is to show that bone remineralization around dental implants with a history of peri-implantitis is possible after irritant factors are removed and only conservative treatment is performed. Patient came to the clinic after three years of dental implant placement complaining about swelling, sensitivity and gingiva color ch...

Bone remineralization around dental implants might be possible after early crestal bone loss. Bone remineralization around dental implants might be possible after early crestal bone loss.

Statement of problem: How cement type and the surface treatment of a titanium base affect the retention of zirconia copings on titanium bases is unclear. Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the dislodging forces of zirconium oxide copings cemented on implant-supported titanium bases with different luting agents and to exa...

Stability of crestal bone around dental implants is a major concern for oral surgeons and dentists. It is a key factor for success of dental implant treatment. Crestal bone is more prevented from resorption when surrounding tissues are thicker. Aim of the study – to find out the mean of crestal bone loss around supracrestally placed dental implants...

This case series aimed to clinically and histologically evaluate porcine-derived membrane used for vertical thickening of thin soft tissues. Twenty porcine-derived collagen membranes and bone-level implants were placed in 20 patients. After 2 months, thickened soft tissues were measured and biopsy samples were harvested. All xenografts healed succe...

Crestal bone stability around dental implants remains one of the most important and foremost factors of successful implant treatment. Besides major clinical advantages to the patient, a positive long-term outcome due to stable marginal bone provides the clinician with psychological comfort and satisfaction

One of the choices to rehabilitate dental implant in aesthetic zone can be cement-screw-retained restoration, usually referred as hybrid prosthesis. It combines some features from cemented and screwed way of restoring implants. The system consists of the crown with palatinal opening, which is cemented to special retentive metal base on the working...

Soft tissue augmentation is a well-established procedure employed in a diverse range of applications such as soft tissue thickening, keratinized tissue augmentation, improvement of the esthetics of existing dental implants and teeth, and crestal bone preservation around implants. This case report describes a technique for the augmentation of vertic...

Due to the forces generated during debonding enamel microcracks (EMCs), a form of teeth damage, may develop and appear morphological changes of their characteristics. However, little is known about the role of EMCs itself to the development of greater extent enamel surface defects during brackets removal. Aim: to evaluate the effect of qualitative...

Objective To evaluate how vertical mucosal tissue thickness affects crestal bone stability around triangular‐shaped bone‐level implants, restored with low profile titanium bases and monolithic lithium disilicate restorations. Material and methods Fifty‐five bone‐level implants of 4.3 mm diameter were evaluated in 55 patients (22 males and 34 femal...

AIM: To present a method for direct both qualitative and quantitative evaluation of enamel microcracks (EMCs) employing a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after brackets removal. Additionally, to determine the versatility of this technique by applying the same analysis for the teeth from various age groups (younger and older age groups...

The study aimed at introducing current available techniques for enamel microcracks (EMCs) detection, and presenting a method for direct quantitative analysis of an individual EMC. Measurements of the detailed EMCs characteristics (location, length, and width) were taken from the reconstructed images of the buccal tooth surface (teeth extracted from...

Introduction: Our aim was to assess the possible changes in sensitivity of teeth with and without visible enamel microcracks (EMCs) up to 1 week after the removal of metal brackets. Methods: After debonding, 15 patients possessing teeth with visible EMCs and 15 subjects whose teeth were free of EMCs were enrolled in the study. For each experimental...

Current use of zirconium oxide (ZrO2)-based screw-retained restorations does not guarantee maximum contact of soft peri-implant tissues with ZrO2, because veneering porcelain usually covers the major subgingival part of the restoration. Ceramics preclude direct interaction between zirconia and soft tissue cells, thus reducing biocompatibility and b...

Aesthetic implant restoration in the anterior maxilla is a challenge for clinicians. Alveolar ridge and surrounding gingiva deficiencies aggravates implant placement in the aesthetic area. This case report describes a technique for aesthetic single implant placement with simultaneous bone grafting and soft tissue thickening. At the time of implant...

Introduction: Our aim was to assess the possible changes in sensitivity of teeth with and without visible enamel microcracks (EMCs) up to 1 week after the removal of metal brackets. Methods: After debonding, 15 patients possessing teeth with visible EMCs and 15 subjects whose teeth were free of EMCs were enrolled in the study. For each experimen...

The aim of this study: To find a correlation between the severity of EMCs (pronounced or weak microcrack), their increase during debonding in vitro, and possible changes in teeth sensitivity after brackets removal in vivo.

The objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of the enamel cracks on the tooth damage during the debonding. Measurements of the cracks characteristics (visibility, direction, length, and location) were performed utilizing a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique and mathematically derived formulas (x=h/30, l=n*x) before and...

With residual excess cement now considered a high-risk factor associated with peri-implant disease, the cement margin site needs to be scrutinized. Clinical guidance on the appropriate margin depth is always a consideration with subgingival cement margin sites, which have distinct benefits from an esthetic prospective but are higher risk for residu...

By this poster the enamel damage issue following the removal metal and ceramic brackets has been examined. The relationship between the cracks on the buccal tooth surface at the beginning of the orthodontic treatment and the irreversible changes in the tooth structure during the debonding has been evaluated. Furthermore, it has been observed if the...

Introduction: Several surgical techniques and prosthetic devices have been developed in the last decades, aiming to improve aesthetic, hygienic and functional outcomes that may affect the peri-implant tissues, such as procedures of bone and soft tissue augmentation and the use of custom-made abutments of titanium and zirconium. Materials and meth...

Objective: To find a correlation between the severity of enamel microcracks (EMCs) and their increase during debonding and residual adhesive removal (RAR). Materials and methods: Following their examination with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 90 extracted human premolars were divided into three groups of 30: group 1, teeth having pronounced...

The objective of this review was to analyze research with regard to the effect of zirconia or titanium as abutment material on soft peri-implant tissues. Clinical studies were selected via electronic and hand searches in English language journals until December 1, 2014. Only randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and prospective controlled clinical tria...

Objective To compare how laser-microtextured implants and implants with platform switching maintain crestal bone stability in thin peri-implant tissues.Material and methodsThirty laser-microtextured implants of 4.6 mm diameter (Tapered Internal Laser-Lok, BioHorizons, Birmingham, AL, USA; Group 1) and 30 implants with platform switching of 5/4 mm d...

With the knowledge that cement-retained restorative options for treating implant sites may increase the risk for disease, screw-retained solutions are being considered. Dealing with the screw access channel esthetics and ability to control occlusal force has been considered the primary motivation for the use of cement-retained implant restorations....

Enamel cracks visible with a naked eye under normal room illumination – pronounced cracks. Cracks not apparent under normal room illumination, but can be visualized with a scanning electron microscope(SEM) – weak cracks. The aims of this in-vitro study: To compare the characteristics of pronounced and weak enamel cracks before the bonding and after...

Enamel cracks, which can develop during the removal of brackets at the end of the orthodontic treatment, may jeopardize the integrity of the enamel, cause stain and plaque accumulation on the rough fractured surface. While small cracks may not result in tooth fracture, over prolonged periods their growth can be detrimental as they may serve as site...

Objective To evaluate the efficiency of acellular dermal matrix membrane to augment vertical peri-implant soft tissue thickness during submerged implant placement.Material and methodsForty acellular dermal matrix-derived allogenic membranes (AlloDerm, BioHorizons, Birmingham, AL, USA) and 42 laser-modified surface internal hex implants (BioHorizons...

Numerous studies have shown the superiority of platform-switched implants in preserving crestal bone as compared with platform-matched implants. However, the influence of initial soft tissue thickness on development of crestal bone loss has not been addressed in previous studies; thus, further research is needed. To evaluate crestal bone levels aro...

To evaluate how bone-level implants maintain crestal bone stability after thickening of thin mucosal tissues with allogenic membrane. Ninety-seven bone-level implants of 4.1 mm diameter (Institute Straumann AG, Switzerland) were evaluated in 97 patients (28 men and 69 women, mean age 47.3 ± 1.2 years). According to vertical gingival thickness, pati...

The depth of the cementation margin has an influence on the amount of cement remnants around implants. However, the role of other clinical factors is still not clarified. The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between undetected cement and (i) location of the implant, (ii) implant diameter, and (iii) undercut. Sixty-five patients were...

It has been shown that thin mucosal tissues may be an important factor in crestal bone loss etiology. Thus, it is possible that mucosal tissue thickening with allogenic membrane might reduce crestal bone loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how implants with traditional connection maintain crestal bone level after soft tissue thickening...

Enamel cracks, that can be noticed after removal of brackets, may jeopardize the integrity of the enamel, cause stain and plaque accumulation on the rough fractured surface (Zachrisson et al., 2005; Chen et al., 2008). That might increase susceptibility to carious lesions and compromise the appearance of the teeth (Zachrisson et al., 2005). Literat...

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this working group were to update the existing knowledge base in computer-guided implant treatment (accuracy and clinical advantages), to search for scientific evidence on the need for keratinized tissue around implants, and to review recent literature in the search for new insights into ridge preservation after toot...

Subgingival positioning of a single dental implant may result in a less stable impression coping in a polymerized impression material. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of a single dental implant placement depth and different impression materials on the stability of an open tray impression coping. Six polyvinyl chloride-based...

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between patients with a history of periodontitis and development of cement-related peri-implant disease. Materials and methodsSeventy-seven patients with 129 implants for this retrospective analysis were selected from completed implant cases that were scheduled for regular maint...

To evaluate the amount of undetected cement after cementation and cleaning of implant-supported restorations. Fifty three patients were treated with 53 single implant-supported metal-ceramic restorations. The subgingival location of the margin of each implant was measured with a periodontal probe mesially, distally, buccaly, and lingually, resultin...

The aim of this study was to estimate the average disintegration temperature of three dental cements used for the cementation of the implant-supported prostheses. One hundred and twenty metal frameworks were fabricated and cemented on the prosthetic abutments with different dental cements. After heat treatment in the dental furnace, the samples wer...

SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES SUMMARY The aim of this study was to estimate the average disintegration temperature of three dental cements used for the cementation of the implant-supported prostheses. One hundred and twenty metal frameworks were fabricated and cemented on the prosthetic abutments with different dental cements. After heat treatment in the den...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare enamel micro-crack characteristics of adult patients before and after removal of metal brackets. After the examination with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 45 extracted human teeth were divided into three groups of equal size: group 1, the teeth having enamel micro-cracks, group 2, the teeth...

occlusal registration material can be used around impression copings to increase stability. A roll of composite resin applied around an impression coping increases surface area and produces undercuts. The application of VPS adhesive enhances the adhesion of impression material to the coping. 7 As a result, the impression coping is more resistant to...

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare enamel cracks characteristics (location, length and width) of adult patients before and after removal of metal brackets.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the amount of the residual cement excess after cementation and cleaning of implant-supported restorations with various positions of the margins. Twenty-five casts with embedded implant analogs and flexible soft-tissue imitation were used in the study. Individual abutments with different position of the margin -...

The aim of this pilot study was to determine what effect thin mucosal tissues can have on crestal bone stability around implants with platform switching. Twelve 2-piece implants, consisting of 6 implants with horizontally matching implant-abutment connection (control) and 6 implants with platform switching (test) were placed in 4 patients. The mean...

The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the influence of gingival tissue thickness on crestal bone loss around dental implants after a 1-year follow-up. Forty-six implants (23 test and 23 control) were placed in 19 patients. The test implants were placed about 2 mm supracrestally, whereas the control implants were positioned at the bone leve...

The aim of this paper was to distinguish what kind of mucosal tissue, measured at the top of the crest can be referred to as thin, medium or thick and its influence on crestal bone loss around dental implants after a 1-year follow-up. Totally 64 implants were evaluated in 26 patients. 32 implants (test group) were placed about 2 mm supracrestally a...

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate available evidence for a difference in the stability of peri-implant tissues between titanium abutments versus gold alloy, zirconium oxide, or aluminum oxide abutments. Studies were identified by examining several electronic databases and major dental implant, prosthetic, and periodontal journals. T...

The aims of the presented study were to define the fracture rate of implant-supported metal-ceramic restorations delivered in private practice, and to identify if a restoration's contact during eccentric mandible movements has any influence on ceramic fracture rates. Material and Within the period from 2005 to 2008, 251 patients, namely 105 men (42...

Research data regarding maxillary complete denture outcome with two-implant supported mandibular overdentures are not consistent. Considering multiple publications on implant supported mandibular overdentures, it was decided to summarize currently present evidence on the maxillary complete dentures opposed by implant-supported mandibular overdentur...

The concept of biologic width forms a basis for successful peri-implant soft tissue integration around titanium implants. Therefore, the objectives of this review are to determine and critically evaluate the present knowledge about biologic width around implants and to establish future research trends. The literature was selected through several el...

The review of the scientific literature, concerning contemporary treatment methods and materials of the post-resection defects of facial bones and surrounding soft tissues in cancer patients is presented in this article. The aloplastic endoprostheses, removable post-resection intraoral prostheses, fixed on implants and ectoprostheses, which are rec...