Correlation between planned prosthetic and residual bone trajectories in dental implants

Statement of problem. The success of dental implant treatment relies on a w ell-developed treatment plan approach. Historically, implant placement was guided mainly by residual bone height and width, at times compromising pros thetic needs. Purpose. This study analyzed the amount of deviation between planned prosth etic trajectory and residual bone trajectory in different areas of the maxi llary and mandibular dental arches, by using a tomographic survey in conjun ction with imaging/surgical guides. Methods and material. Ninety-two patients with a total of 235 implant sites were selected for the study. An imaging and surgical guide with a radiopaq ue indicator was constructed to determine the planned prosthetic trajectory . Cross-sectional tomograms were taken through the indicator at each implan t site. The outlines of the available bone, planned prosthetic trajectory, and residual bone trajectory were traced, and the difference in the traject ory between the 2 trajectories was determined. Results. Discrepancies between the planned prosthetic and the residual bone trajectories were greater in the mandibular molar area. This site was stat istically different from other site groups at P=.05 (Tukey method). Statist ically, all other site groups were not significantly different.