Abstract:

Aim: Understanding and foreseeing the 3-dimensional quantitative bone structure or preparation for an additional ancillary procedure that may be required for successful implant placement in a particular region of the jaw could contribute to better preparation and accurate prognosis.

Materials and method: This retrospective study has been derived based on an analysis of

200 randomly selected cases. Each procedure during implant treatment was categorized and

coded as Pan or Pan with CBCT. The procedures included 1: Surgery & Restoration, 2: GBR (Guided Bone Regeneration), 3: GTR (Guided Tissue Regeneration), 4: Block Bone graft, 5: Spreading, 6: Splitting, 7: Internal Sinus, 8: External Sinus, 9: PRF (Platelet Rich Factor). Each of the 200 cases was examined in detail and the number of cases that the case was anesthetized, incision, flap made, osteotomy attempted but the implant could not be placed due to lack of bone quantity and/or lack of primary stability was calculated.

Results: In 1134 patients who had received 4800 dental implants from January 2001 till August 2015 the percentage that led to aborting the surgery was 7% of all the cases that used OPG alone and 0% when using CBCT. 

Discussion: Radiographic image quality is defined as the amount of information within the image that allows the radiologist to make a diagnostic decision with a particular level of certainty (Martin et al., 1999) and hence the importance of CBCT. This unexpected 7% devastating situation that was not foreseen leads to a lot of procedural difficulties, and the need for an altered treatment plan which will have a negative impact on the patient.

Conclusion: This study indicates the significance of cone beam computed tomography [CBCT] as an adjunct to panoramic radiography with a percentage of 7% that led to aborting the surgery with the use of panoramic radiography alone during the diagnosis and treatment planning phase.