Ricerc@Sapienza

The use of pterygoid implants can be an attractive alternative to sinus bone grafting in the treatment of posterior atrophic maxilla. This technique has not been widely used because of the difficulty of the surgical access, the presence of vital structures, and the prosthetic challenges. The use of dynamic computer aided implantology (DCAI) allows the clinician to utilize navigation dental implant surgery, which allows the surgeon to follow the osteotomy site and implant positioning in real time.

Pterygoid implant placement has not been a common treatment modality to manage the atrophic posterior maxilla. This randomized, controlled clinical trial evaluated the accuracy of dynamic navigation using trace registration (TR) technology in pterygoid implant placement when compared to free-hand surgery. Partially edentulous patients requiring at least one pterygoid implant to rehabilitate the atrophic posterior maxilla were included.