Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Toronto, 1995. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Toronto, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Iowa, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Toronto, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 30, 1981) Includes bibliographical references.

Dental implants are an effective method of restoring missing teeth without compromising healthy neighboring teeth. Under proper oral hygiene and adequate care dental implants may be maintained for over 10 years. Good bone and gingival health are necessary for successful implants. In general systemic diseases may lead to lower rates of dental implant success. In spite of the risk the use of implants is not contraindicated. The effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy has increased the span and quality of life in HIV positive patients. Currently, HIV positive patients can opt for advanced dental treatments such as dental implants to restore their smile and masticatory function. Implants require a surgical approach which has the same level of invasiveness and risk of infection as tooth extraction. It is still questionable whether implants are a viable alternative for HIV positive patients as HIV infection itself and antiretroviral therapy both lead to bone loss. There are insufficient longitudinal studies to determine the success of dental implants in HIV positive patients. Recruited subjects for this study were scheduled for a single visit at GSDM to evaluate the current status of their implants previously placed at GSDM. Their medical history was updated including antiretroviral treatment. After a medical interview an intraoral radiographic image of the dental implant was used for comparison with the one taken at the date of implant placement to measure the amount of bone loss around the implant. This study aimed to determine if an unmodifiable factor such as HIV and the use of ART may affect the success of dental implants. Due to the small sample size, we may not conclude that HIV itself or the use of antiretroviral therapy affect the outcome of dental implant. The study supports the use of dental implants on HIV positive patients and the success of them is comparable to those placed on non-HIV patients.

published_or_final_version / Orthopaedics and Traumatology / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

No description available.

There is an increasing demand for spinal surgery and a growing number of new spinal implants and surgical procedures being offered by orthopaedic companies. However, the testing of spinal implants and spinal instrumentation is problematic, with testing in cadavers and animals becoming increasingly difficult and both having significant limitations. Thus the aim of this research is to develop an artificial laboratory spine that will have the same physical and biomechanical properties as the human spine. Validation of computer model is difficult hence an active artificial laboratory spine is being developed. A number of spinal elements have been produced and are being investigated, including an artificial intervertebral disc with different material properties to allow it to simulate different clinical conditions. The study is the first of its kind with the characteristics of the disc material that have been assessed in the laboratory, artificial muscles and spring elements and with normal physiological movements compared and validated from the reported literature. The model was used to investigate the potential of Shape Memory Alloy wires to act as artificial muscles and to control the movement of the spine. It is anticipated that the laboratory spine will have a number of other applications, in particular in the assessment of spinal instrumentation and testing. An actual geometry laboratory spine is also generated with suitable manufacturing technique for intervertebral disc, which has an accurate surface profile to fit between the two vertebral bodies above and below it, is discussed in this thesis.