Implant Placement Accuracy Using Dynamic Navigation.

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective study was to determine platform and angle accuracy for dental implants using dynamic navigation, a form of computer-assisted surgery. Three hypotheses were considered: (1) the overall accuracy for implant placement relative to the virtual plan is similar to that of static tooth-borne computerized tomography (CT)-generated guides; (2) the dynamic system is more accurate than freehand methods; and (3) there is a learning curve associated with this method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved three surgeons placing implants in the mandible and maxilla of patients using a dynamic navigation system (X-Guide, X-Nav Technologies). Virtual implants were placed into planned sites using the navigation system computer. Post-implant placement cone beam CT scans were taken on all patients. For each patient, this scan was mesh overlayed with the virtual plan and used to determine platform and angular deviations to the virtual plan. The primary outcome variables were platform and angular deviations, comparing the actual placement to the virtual plan. Secondary analyses included determination of accuracy related to case experience and freehand placement of implants. Comparisons to published accuracy studies were made for implant placement using static guides. RESULTS: Accuracy deviations from the virtual plan were similar to those reported for static tooth-based guides using literature references as the comparison. The accuracy of dynamic navigation was superior compared to freehand implant placement. The three surgeons had similar accuracies after their learning curve was achieved. Proficiency based on case series was achieved by the 20th surgical procedure. CONCLUSION: Dynamic navigation can achieve accuracy of implant placement similar to static guides and is an improvement over freehand implant placement. In addition, there was a learning curve to achieve proficiency.

Accuracy of Dynamic Navigation for Dental Implant Placement-Model-Based Evaluation.

The purpose of this model-based study was to determine the accuracy of placing dental implants using a new dynamic navigation system. This investigation focuses on measurements of overall accuracy for implant placement relative to the virtual plan in both dentate and edentulous models, and provides a comparison with a meta-analysis of values reported in the literature for comparable static guidance, dynamic guidance, and freehand placement studies. This study involves 1 surgeon experienced with dynamic navigation placing implants in models under clinical simulation using a dynamic navigation system (X-Guide, X-Nav Technologies, LLC, Lansdale, Pa) based on optical triangulation tracking. Virtual implants were placed into planned sites using the navigation system computer. Post-implant placement cone-beam scans were taken. These scans were mesh overlaid with the virtual plan and used to determine deviations from the virtual plan. The primary outcome variables were platform and angular deviations comparing the actual placement to the virtual plan. The angular accuracy of implants delivered using the tested device was 0.89° ± 0.35° for dentate case types and 1.26° ± 0.66° for edentulous case types, measured relative to the preoperative implant plan. Three-dimensional positional accuracy was 0.38 ± 0.21 mm for dentate and 0.56 ± 0.17 mm for edentulous, measured from the implant apex.