Prevalence of Dental Implant Positioning Errors: A Radiographic Analysis

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Radiology
• Oral Surgery

Background:

• Implant placement errors pose significant risks, including bone loss, nerve damage, and implant failure.
• Accurate implant positioning is critical for long-term success and patient well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and characteristics of dental implant positioning errors.
• To identify common error types and affected anatomical regions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 500 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans from a dental university hospital.
• Assessment of implants for thread exposure, proximity to anatomical structures, and distance violations.

Main Results:

• 56.6% of implants showed positioning errors, most frequently in the maxillary posterior region (51.6%).
• Common errors included thread exposure (37.7%) and proximity to the maxillary sinus (27.7%).
• Error prevalence correlated significantly with anatomical location but not with sex or demographics.

Conclusions:

• High prevalence of implant positioning errors necessitates improved preoperative planning and advanced imaging.
• Combining clinical expertise with CBCT is vital for minimizing errors and enhancing patient outcomes.
• Further research should explore surgical techniques, implant design, and patient factors impacting placement accuracy.