Intraoperative computerized navigation for flapless implant surgery and immediate loading in the edentulous mandible.

Abstract

Computerized navigation surgery has evolved to facilitate minimally invasive procedures, the gold standard of surgery today. While flapless implant surgery may be clinically beneficial, it has generally been perceived as a blind procedure limited to straightforward cases that do not pose a risk of cortical plate perforation. The objective of this report is to describe a protocol for flapless implant placement in a completely edentulous mandible using computerized navigation surgery. The Image Guided Implantology system (IGI, DenX Advanced Dental Systems) is described. The IGI system provides real-time imaging of the dental drill and transforms flapless implant surgery into a fully monitored procedure. The highly accurate intraoperative navigation enables precise transfer of the detailed presurgical implant plan to the patient. This is particularly valuable in edentulous jaws lacking any indication of the dental arch. The accurate positioning of the implants, based on the presurgical digital plan, allows fabrication of a provisional fixed prosthesis before the implant surgery for immediate postoperative loading. This innovative protocol can enhance prosthodontic-driven placement of implants in a fully monitored flapless surgery.