Precision implant placement: A novel approach using dynamic navigation system-guided alveolar ridge splitting

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Surgical Navigation Technologies
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Background:

• Conventional alveolar ridge splitting (ARS) carries significant risks, particularly in cases of severe bone resorption.
• Insufficient bone width in the mandibular molar region presents a challenge for standard dental implant procedures.
• Dynamic navigation systems (DNS) offer potential for enhanced precision in complex surgical scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the first application of a dynamic navigation system (DNS)-guided alveolar ridge splitting (ARS) technique.
• To evaluate the precision and efficacy of DNS-guided ARS for dental implant placement in a patient with a resorbed mandibular ridge.
• To assess deviations in implant placement using real-time navigation during ARS.

Main Methods:

• A 37-year-old patient with a Siebert's Class I resorbed mandibular ridge (2.5 mm width) underwent virtual planning using DNS.
• Three-dimensional virtual guide slits and implant planning were created for the mandibular molar regions (#46 and #47).
• Piezoelectric ARS, osteotomy preparation, and implant placement were performed under DNS guidance with real-time navigation.

Main Results:

• Implant placement deviations at the entry point were 0.70 mm (#46) and 0.50 mm (#47).
• Implant placement deviations at the apex were 0.26 mm (#46) and 0.01 mm (#47).
• Observed angular deviations for implant placement were within optimal ranges.

Conclusions:

• Dynamic navigation system-guided alveolar ridge splitting is a precise and efficient technique for implant placement in narrow mandibular ridges.
• Real-time navigation enhances accuracy and minimizes risks in challenging anatomical situations requiring ARS.
• DNS-guided ARS represents a promising advancement for predictable dental implant outcomes in resorbed alveolar ridges.