Assessment of a new system for computer-guided implantology.

Objectives: Cad-Cam technology allows to plan implant position on CT images and to produce customized surgical template to transfer this information to surgical sites.The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of a new Cad-Cam system (Safe System®-Materialise-Leuven –Belgium) in the treatment of full edentulism. Methods: Six patients were enrolled in the sample and treated with the system. All patients received a template and underwent CT-DentaScan. Ct images were used for planning implant position with SimPlant® software. Patients were divided into two groups: the “Fixed Group” (FG), where implant placement as well as drilling was template guided but the template was fixed on the alveolar ridge with three mini-screws; and the “No-Fixed Group” (NFG), where the template was not fixed on the mucosa of alveolar ridge. After surgery a control CT-scan was taken and images of planned and placed implants were compared. Results: FG accuracy was 72.7% on vestibular-oral axis and 81.8% on mesio-distal axis in the upper jaw , while accuracy was 100% on vestibular-lingual axis and 50% on mesio-distal axis in the lower jaw . NFG accuracy was 78.9% on vestibular-oral axis and 100% on mesio-distal axis in the upper jaw , while accuracy was 62.5% on vestibular-lingual axis and 100% on mesio-distal axis in the lower jaw . Conclusion: Based on the results of this study the use of mini-screws to fix the Safe System® surgical template does not increase the degree of accuracy.