Analysis of Linear and Angular Deviations of Implants Installed With a Tomographic-Guided Surgery Technique: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the linear and angular deviations of the implants installed by the computerized tomography (CT)–guided surgery technique. Eighteen patients who underwent implant insertion by means of CT-guided surgery participated in this study. Ten of these patients had a fully edentulous maxilla, and 8 had a fully edentulous mandible. The patients received a total of 115 implants, of which 81 implants were installed in the maxilla and 34 installed in the mandible. Tomographic guides were made for tomographic examination in both the upper and lower jaws. After the image acquisition, the virtual planning of the positioning of the implants was performed in relation to the previously made prosthesis. The measurement of the linear and angular deviations between the virtual planning and the final position of the implants was performed with the overlap of the planning and postoperative tomography. There were no differences in the linear and angular deviations of the implants installed in the maxilla and mandible. Compared with the coronal region, there was a trend of greater linear deviations in the apical regions of the implants and a greater tendency toward deviations in the posterior regions than in the anterior regions of both arches. The CT-guided surgery promoted the installation of implants with high accuracy and allowed the installation of straight pillars in all cases evaluated. The linear deviations were not different in the different regions of the mouth or in the different portions of the implants.