Complications of CAD/CAM Fabricated Surgical Template for Static Computer-Aided Implant Surgery

Abstract

Purpose: Surgical templates produced by digital simulation and CAD/CAM allow for three-dimensional control of implant placement. However, due to clinical limitations, there are complications during the use of the template. The purpose of this study was to summarize the complications associated with the use of surgical templates for static computer-aided implant surgery. Methods: Complications were collected during the observation period, and then their implant sites were reanalyzed with simulation software. Results: There were 104 cases during the observation period, 5 cases had complications. Mechanical complications were observed in four cases, including three cases in which the frame of the template fractured during implant placement surgery and one case in which the sleeve fell off the surgical template. In one case, there was an error in the planned position. All cases were mandibular molar cases, and all cases of frame fracture were at the free end defect site. All cases had a Hounsfield unit of more than 700 at the implant site, and some of them had a significantly small jaw opening. Conclusion: Although the spread of CAD/CAM surgical templates has made it possible to avoid problems caused by the position of the implant, it has been difficult to avoid fractures in cases of mandibular free end defects with high Hounsfield unit.