Determination of zygomatic implants length based on computed tomography-establishment of a protocol / Determinação do comprimento de implantes zigomaticos a partir de tomografia computadorizada : estabelecimento de um protocolo

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2005

RESUMO

Zygomatic fixations offer an alternative to bone grafts in the rehabilitation of severely atrophic maxillas. Zygomatic implants are three to four times longer than conventional implants, and their positioning requires extreme surgical precision and skill, since they must be inserted in the maxillary sinus and their locking point is situated in the body of the zygomatic bone. Deviations in the angle of insertion and miscalculated estimates of the length of the implants may pose a risk to such important structures as the orbit. The present study aimed to establish and validate a testing protocol based on computed tomography that would allow radiologists to better estimate the length of the implants, making the surgical procedure more predictable and safer, and minimizing the patients? exposure to radiation. Ten dry edentulous human skulls with completely reabsorbed alveolar processes were used. Tomographic paracoronal images were obtained, and the lengths and horizontal angles of insertion were estimated. Next, the specimens underwent a surgical procedure for insertion of zygomatic implants (n=20) and determination of both actual and clinical lengths of the implants? locations. The tomographic, clinical and actual average lengths obtained were 45.73 ±4.82mm, 42.63 ±4.33mm, and 44.73 ±4.53mm, respectively. While Student?s t-test did not reveal any statistically significant difference between the actual and the tomographic average lengths (P=0.1532), the actual and the clinical average lengths were statistically different (P<0.0001). The correlation study (Pearson?s coefficient) revealed a significant and direct correlation among the analyzed variables. The proposed protocol proved to be not only precise but also efficient in determining the length of zygomatic implants, ensuring relatively low exposure of patients to radiation due to the small amount of tomographic scans needed

ASSUNTO(S)

x-ray computed dental implants tomography implantes dentarios tomografia computadorizada por raios x

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