Incorporation of Greater Palatal Artery Pathway Projection into a Static Surgical Guide

Area of Science:

• Oral Surgery
• Digital Dentistry
• Anatomical Visualization

Background:

• Free gingival graft and connective-tissue grafting are common periodontal procedures.
• Potential risks include damage to the greater palatine artery, a crucial blood vessel in the palate.
• Accurate anatomical knowledge and surgical planning are vital for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a digital workflow for integrating the greater palatine artery's mucosal projection into static surgical guides.
• To enhance the safety and precision of free gingival graft and connective-tissue grafting techniques.

Main Methods:

• Utilized cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to identify and mark the greater palatine artery pathways.
• Employed digital design software for segmentation and 3D modeling of the arterial anatomy.
• Integrated the 3D arterial model with intraoral scans to create a digital surgical guide.
• Designed a static surgical guide with the artery pathways digitally incorporated for printing.

Main Results:

• A static surgical guide was successfully developed, incorporating the mucosal projection of the greater palatine artery.
• The guide allows for intraoperative marking of a safe zone, avoiding the artery's pathway.
• This digital workflow provides enhanced visualization of critical anatomical structures.

Conclusions:

• The proposed digital workflow offers a viable method for visualizing and marking the greater palatine artery projection on surgical guides.
• This technique improves safety during free gingival graft and connective-tissue grafting procedures.
• The digital integration of anatomical data into surgical guides represents a significant advancement in periodontal surgery planning.