RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy, safety, and anticipation effect of a novel electrical conductivity device (SG) in maxillary osteotomy preparation for placement of dental implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven osteotomies were prepared by three operators with different levels of expertise, using the SG protocol in the maxilla of six fresh frozen cadavers. A pre-op CT measurement of the length of bone in the desired implant location was taken and compared with the final length of the osteotomy created using SG during surgery. A comparison was made between the results of the different operators. RESULTS: The pre-op CT bone length measurements and the final depth assessment of the osteotomy with SG had a very high correlation level (0.977) with a significant mean difference of 0.639 mm (P < .0001), with the pre-op CT measurements being longer. The least experienced operator had placed the implants 0.924 mm less deep than the pre-op CT length measurements while the most experienced operator had placed the implants 0.244 mm less deep than the pre op CT length measurements. All implants were placed in the correct position and no breach of the sinus/nasal floor or buccal/palatine bone plates was detected. CONCLUSIONS: The SG electrical conductivity device offers the operator real-time monitoring during the surgical procedure. It provides a simple, safe, and sensitive method of detecting breaches, making it simple and safe for oral surgeons with different levels of expertise to use, with promising results.
