Dynamic Surgical Guidance to Facilitate Dental Implant Placement: A Case Report

by Jill Bashutski, DDS, MS, FRCD(C); Stéfan M. Piché, DMD

Introduction

The long-term success of dental implant surgery is dependent, in part, on accurate planning and placement of the implant.1 Currently, there are many digital planning systems available to aid the clinician in pre-operative treatment planning, although the main challenge with these planning systems is to accurately transfer the digital plan to the clinical situation. Most systems involve taking a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) or other three-dimensional scan of the patient, and then digitally placing implants using a software program.

Traditionally, static surgical guides are used to relate the digital planned position of the implants to the clinical situation. However, there are several drawbacks to static surgical guides. Specifically, the surgical guide cannot be modified intraoperatively to adapt to chairside decisions that result in changes to the clinical plan. Furthermore, static guides are typically designed over the surgical site, and so there is some impediment to the visualization of the surgical field. Finally, the static guides have small but significant distortions associated with them, resulting in an accuracy of implant placement that varies widely. Studies have reported wide ranges of deviations in implant placement relative to the planned position in both apico-coronal and angular dimensions for most commercially available systems.2-6 Inaccurate implant placement can result in short-term complications, such as damage to adjacent vital structures, as well as a long-term increase in implant failure.7-9

A new technology to address these drawbacks is dynamic surgical guidance.10-12 Dynamic surgical guidance technology involves a computerized navigational system intended to provide assistance in both the planning (pre-operative) and the surgical (intra-operative) phases of dental implantation surgery. Dynamic surgical guidance provides two main modes of operation: preoperative case planning and intraoperative surgical treatment. In the preoperative phase, the system is first used to plan the dental procedure including the planned implant location within the CBCT image. During the planning phase, the clinician can select the implant system for each surgical site. Case planning can be done prior to the day of surgery, in which case the treatment plan can be saved into the case management database or, alternatively, the case can be planned immediately prior to surgery.

Subsequently, the system is used to identify and accurately track the location of the handpiece during the procedure. This allows the user to correlate the location of the handpiece and selected drill to internal anatomical structures and surgical plan while performing the dental procedure. Advantages of this system over conventional systems include the ability to better visualize the surgical site, to minimize inaccuracies in the transfer of the digital plan to the clinical situation, and to allow for intraoperative changes to the digital plan.13-15

The use of near-real time computerized surgical guidance systems has been shown to significantly increase the precision of implants compared with conventional methods and to help minimize the risk of injuries to surrounding anatomic structures like the mandibular nerve or the maxillary sinus floor.16-17 The technology has been also used in other fields such as neurosurgery, endoscopy, arthroscopy, bone surgery, image-guided biopsy, and the removal of foreign bodies.18

Dynamic surgical guidance is currently indicated for use in dental implant surgery for partially edentulous patients, as the system employs the use of a stent to hold the patient tracking device and this needs to be rigidly fixed to teeth during the surgical procedure. The system provides near real time surgical motion tracking and has an overall system accuracy of ±0.5 mm.13-15

Operation of the dynamic surgical guidance systems is based on various methods of optical tracking. Optical tracking is characterized by a reference body worn by the patient that is not electrified and does not emit energy in order to be tracked. Inliant Clinical is one type of dynamic surgical guidance system, and it uses unique markers, which are laser engraved onto a regular handpiece (there is nothing extra attached to the handpiece) and on the tracker arm to provide references, which are captured by two cameras above the workspace. Software processing then determines the location and orientation of the handpiece with respect to the tracker arm and by extension, the anatomical site. The positioning information is overlaid on existing CT scans of the patient’s jaw and displayed to the clinician on a monitor in the surgical operatory.

During treatment, the interaction between the drill, the osteotomy created, and the patient, is displayed live through a series of views for each axis of the CBCT images, as well as a bull’s eye view of the drill position relative to the planned treatment. The system allows the clinician to view the existing 3D CBCT images of the patient anatomy and renders them together with the tracked handpiece, selected drill, and virtual osteotomy created.

Abstract
Dynamic surgical guidance is computerized navigational technology that provides assistance in preoperative planning, as well as real time surgical motion tracking intraoperatively. With this system, the clinician is able to correlate the location of the handpiece and selected drills with both internal anatomical structures and the surgical plan during implant placement. This case report highlights a dental implant surgery using this technology.

Case Presentation
A 72-year-old Caucasian female presented to Cityview Periodontal Center with a missing #46. The patient’s chief complaint was the “desire to replace her missing tooth”. A comprehensive examination was conducted, including an intraoral examination, digital impressions, and radiographs (Figs. 1 & 2). The radiographs identified that the inferior alveolar nerve was in close proximity to the planned location of the implant.

 

                         Figure 1A                                                          Figure 1B
A comprehensive examination was conducted, including an intraoral examination, digital impressions, and radiographs A comprehensive examination was conducted, including an intraoral examination, digital impressions, and radiographs

                         Figure 2                                                          Figure 3
A comprehensive examination was conducted, including an intraoral examination, digital impressions, and radiographs Dynamic Surgical Guidance to Facilitate Dental Implant Placement: A Case Report

 

Treatment Plan
Multiple treatment options were presented to the patient, including placing two implants to replace #46 and #47. The patient chose to only replace #46 at this time. Due to the challenging nature of the case, it was decided to use dynamic surgical guidance for both the implant planning and surgical phases.

Imaging Phase
An imaging stent with radiopaque teeth was fabricated from the digital impression (Fig. 4). In case the patient chose to replace #37 and #47 in the future, these teeth were also added to the stent. Then, a plastic marker that also serves to hold the patient tracker (called a fiducial) was added to the imaging stent, and a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan taken with the imaging stent/fiducial in place (Fig. 4).

 

                         Figure 4A                                                          Figure 4B
An imaging stent with radiopaque teeth was fabricated from the digital impression Then, a plastic marker that also serves to hold the patient tracker (called a fiducial) was added to the imaging stent, and a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan taken with the imaging stent/fiducial in place

 

Implant Planning Phase
The CBCT images, with the radiopaque prosthetic plan visible in the scan, were uploaded into an implant planning software program associated with the dynamic surgical guidance system. Then, the ideal implant size and position was planned using the software, respecting the anatomical limitations of the area (Fig. 6). The digital plan for the final implant position was confirmed and the patient was prepared for surgery.

 

                Figure 6A                                             Figure 6B
Then, the ideal implant size and position was planned using the software, respecting the anatomical limitations of the area Then, the ideal implant size and position was planned using the software, respecting the anatomical limitations of the area

 

Pre-Surgical Setup Phase
Immediately prior to surgery, the patient took 300mg clindamycin orally, and rinsed with 0.12% chlorhexidine rinse for one minute. The imaging stent was modified to eliminate the portion of the stent in the surgical area, and the tracking arm was attached (Fig. 7). Both the tracking arm and the handpiece (Fig. 8) contain black marking dots that can be identified optically by tracking cameras that attach to the overhead light (Fig. 9). This setup constitutes the basis for the dynamic surgical guidance system, which is able to identify the drill position relative to the patient position intraoperatively.

 

                         Figure 7                                                          Figure 8

The imaging stent was modified to eliminate the portion of the stent in the surgical area, and the tracking arm was attached Both the tracking arm and the handpiece

                         Figure 9
contain black marking dots that can be identified optically by tracking cameras that attach to the overhead light

 

Surgical Phase
A full thickness flap was raised to the mucogingival junction. Then, the stent with the tracking arm was secured onto the patient’s anterior and left posterior teeth, and stability of the stent was verified. An osteotomy was prepared in #46 position using the recommended drills and sequence. The dynamic surgical guidance system was used throughout the surgical phase to identify the position of the drills within the patient’s anatomy using the CBCT scan images, and viewed on a screen behind the patient (Figs. 10 & 11). A Strauman SLActive 4.8 mm WN x 8 mm implant was placed successfully according to the dynamic surgical guidance plan, with adequate distance (>2 mm) from the apex of the implant to the inferior alveolar nerve canal. A 3mm healing abutment was placed and the flap sutured using 4-0 vicryl sutures. Final clinical photographs and a periapical radiograph were taken (Figs. 12 & 13).

 

                         Figure 10                                                          Figure 11
The dynamic surgical guidance system was used throughout the surgical phase to identify the position of the drills within the patient’s anatomy using the CBCT scan images, and viewed on a screen behind the patient The dynamic surgical guidance system was used throughout the surgical phase to identify the position of the drills within the patient’s anatomy using the CBCT scan images, and viewed on a screen behind the patient

                         Figure 12                                                          Figure 13

Final clinical photographs and a periapical radiograph were taken Final clinical photographs and a periapical radiograph were taken

 

 

Restorative Phase
After approximately three months healing, the stability of the implant was tested using a reverse torque test. A peri-apical radiograph verified that the bone levels around the implant remained acceptable and that the implant was ready to restore (Fig. 14). Digital impressions were taken using a Straumann Monobody scan body and the iTero digital scanner. A direct screw-retained #46 implant crown was made (Fig. 15). The abutment screw was torqued to 35 N-cm (Fig. 16). The occlusal access hole was filled with a Teflon tape spacer and an occlusal composite restoration (Fig. 17).

 

                         Figure 14                                                          Figure 15

A peri-apical radiograph verified that the bone levels around the implant remained acceptable and that the implant was ready to restore Digital impressions were taken using a Straumann Monobody scan body and the iTero digital scanner. A direct screw-retained #46 implant crown was made

                     Figure 16A                                                          Figure 16B
The abutment screw was torqued to 35 N-cm The abutment screw was torqued to 35 N-cm

                   Figure 17A                                                          Figure 17B
Dynamic Surgical Guidance to Facilitate Dental Implant Placement: A Case Report Dynamic Surgical Guidance to Facilitate Dental Implant Placement: A Case Report

 

Conclusion
Dynamic surgical guidance is a tool available to implant surgeons that has the potential to increase predictability of implant placement. The ability to visualize the dental implant drills within a three-dimensional view of the patient’s anatomy provides a major advantage in dental implant surgical technology. In this case report, dynamic surgical guidance was used to ensure safe, accurate, and efficient planning and placement of a dental implant in the posterior mandible in a challenging anatomic situation.

Acknowledgement
The authors wish to thank Navigate Surgical (makers of the Inliant Clinical system), Aurum laboratories, and Sinclair dental for product support and advice. The authors wish to disclose financial conflicts of interest with the above companies.

Disclaimer
JB has financial and consulting interests in Inliant Clinical and receives product and materials support from Aurum and Carestream.

 


Jill Bashutski is an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan where she previously served as Acting Director of Graduate Periodontics and Director of Undergraduate Periodontics. Dr. Bashutski obtained her dental degree from Western University in London, Ontario. She later obtained her Certificate in Periodontology, Master’s of Science in Dentistry, and Lazzara Fellowship in Advanced Implant Therapy at the University of Michigan. She serves as a senior editorial review board member for Implant Dentistry and the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Research and has authored over 30 articles and five book chapters on periodontics and implant dentistry, including a first-authored paper in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. In 2015, she received the Junior Alumni of Distinction Award from Western University for her contributions to research and teaching. Dr. Bashutski also works in private practice in Regina, SK, Canada. She can be reached at jillbashutski@gmail.com.

Dr. Piché graduated with distinction from the University Of Saskatchewan College Of Dentistry in 2000. Dr. Piché provides all types of general dentistry, focusing on full mouth reconstruction and implant restorations. He is an ITI member, an active member in the Academy of Osseointegration and has completed advanced occlusal studies at the Dawson Academy. Dr. Piché works in private practice in Regina, SK, Canada.

Oral Health welcomes this original article.

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