Computer-guided flapless placement of immediately loaded dental implants in the edentulous maxilla: a pilot prospective case series.

• The aim of this case series was to evaluate the Procera Software v1.6 and the surgical templates for flapless implant placement and immediate loading in atrophic fully edentulous maxillae.The Procera Software was used to plan the exact position of the implants, and surgical templates were made to guide flapless implant placement. To allow for immediate loading, implants had to be placed with an insertion torque > 30 Ncm. Provisional cross-arch prostheses, produced before surgery using the software planning, were delivered immediately after implant placement, and replaced by final restorations after 6 months. Outcome measures were: prosthetic and implant failures, complications, post-operative pain and swelling, consumption of analgesics, and patient satisfaction. The followup stopped at 8 months post-loading.Thirteen consecutive patients with atrophic maxillae were treated with 89 implants (6 to 8 implants per patient). Two flaps had to be elevated in two patients. One template fractured during surgery. Three implants in two patients were not loaded immediately. In four patients, impressions had to be taken to fit the provisional prostheses onto the implants. Five implants failed in four patients. One patient dropped out, due to financial reasons, with the provisional prosthesis still in function. Eight months after loading, all prostheses were successful and 11 out of 12 patients reported their quality of life and lifestyle had improved.This software-based treatment planning may be useful in planning and treating challenging cases such as flapless implant placement and immediate loading of maxillary cross-arch bridges, but a learning curve is necessary.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinsk bioteknologi -- Biomaterialvetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Medical Biotechnology -- Biomaterials Science (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adult

Aged

Aged

80 and over

Analgesics

therapeutic use

Computer-Aided Design

Dental Implantation

Endosseous

instrumentation

methods

Dental Implants

Dental Restoration Failure

Denture Design

Edema

etiology

Female

Follow-Up Studies

Humans

Jaw

Edentulous

surgery

Life Style

Male

Maxilla

surgery

Middle Aged

Pain

Postoperative

etiology

Patient Care Planning

Patient Satisfaction

Pilot Projects

Postoperative Complications

Prospective Studies

Quality of Life

Surgery

Computer-Assisted

Torque

Treatment Outcome

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)