Oral Fine Motor Control in Patients With Anterior Maxillary Single Implants, Freestanding Teeth and Teeth Connected in 3‐Unit Bridges: An Experimental In Vivo Study

OBJECTIVES: The oral fine motor control is compromised in patients with full-arch, bimaxillary bridges compared to those with natural teeth. No previous studies have examined the differences between the prosthetic treatments small anterior bridges and single anterior implants (SI). The aim of the study was to evaluate oral fine motor control in patients with single anterior tooth loss, comparing anterior teeth connected in 3-unit resin bonded bridges (RBB) and free-standing teeth adjacent to single implants (SI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A standardized hold-and-split task was performed in 16 patients on two occasions: once, with a RBB in place and once after replacement with a SI. The four conditions connected tooth (CT), pontic (P), free-standing tooth (T), and single implant (SI) were tested. Outcome variables hold force, variability of hold force, split force, and duration of split were analyzed using paired sample t-test or Wilcoxon signed rank test, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences between T and SI for all variables (p < 0.05) except for duration of split (p > 0.05), and between CT and P regarding hold force and duration of split. No significant differences were found between CT and T or P and SI for any of the outcome variables (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Oral fine motor control on a SI was compromised compared to a T and comparable to a P of a 3-unit RBB. However, splinting a tooth (CT) in a 3-unit anterior RBB does not seem to compromise the oral fine motor control.