Evaluation of the efficacy of a prosthodontic stent in determining the position of dental implants.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of a dual purpose (diagnostic and surgical) acrylic resin stent with gutta percha marker used in conjunction with 3D imaging in determination of the position and inclination of dental implants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was performed as a case control study. A total of 41 implants, of which 20 had been placed without the use of stents and 3D imaging (control group) and 21 were placed using stents and 3D imaging (study group), were studied. A diagnostic and surgical stent with radio-opaque indicator (gutta percha) was fabricated to determine the planned prosthetic position and inclination of the implant. Computed tomography images were obtained and were analyzed using Denta Scan software. The position of the implant was analyzed in mesiodistal and buccolingual dimensions in terms of both position and angulation. SPSS v15.0 was used for statistical analysis (p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant).

RESULTS

The study group demonstrated an overall 98.9% efficacy of the test technique being used in the study. On qualitative assessment, the results obtained were within the defined ideal threshold level for four of five parameters (distance from buccal and lingual cortical plate, inter-implant distance, and buccolingual angulation of the implant relative to underlying alveolar bone). For mesiodistal distance from adjacent teeth, the observation was not above threshold value for only one case. For the control group, the overall efficacy was 66.9%.

CONCLUSION

The technique of combined use of a prosthodontic stent and 3D imaging is an efficacious and better technique in achieving an ideal position of dental implants as compared to conventional techniques using periapical and panoramic radiographs and a cast.