Positioning of dental implants using computer-aided navigation and an optical tracking system: case report and presentation of a new method

A navigation system for computer-aided surgery (Virtual Patient System, VPS ) has been described in previous studies for different indications in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The aim of the system is the intraoperative tran sfer of preoperative planning on radiographs or CT scans on the patient, in real-time, and independent of the position of the patient's head, Until no w an electromagnetic tracking system has been used for intra-operative posi tion measurement. For placement of dental implants, the electromagnetic tra cking system is not suitable since the motor of the implant drill leads to a considerable distortion of the magnetic field, thus direct visualization of drilling the implant socket was not possible, To overcome this problem, an optical tracking system which is not disturbed by conductive materials w as integrated in the VPS system, The first patient operated on with this sy stem had a posttraumatic loss of the upper incisors; three implants have be en placed according to the prosthetic axis previously planned on radiograph s and CT scans, The experience gained in this intervention led to the concl usion that computer-aided surgery provides a valuable tool in implant denti stry.