2020 Volume 33 Issue 1 Pages 52-58
In recent years, dental implants as prosthodontic treatment for missing teeth have become widespread as highly predictable prostheses for defects. Following dental implant treatment, the number of cases where dental implant bodies can be left in situ while maintaining a comfortable oral environment has increased. However, there has also been a rise in the number of cases where dental implant bodies must be removed due to poor prognosis.
In the present case study, a dental implant body required removal due to poor placement position, having been left in situ for about 5 years 6 months until it was completely covered by alveolar bone. We performed computer-guided surgery to remove it. A surgical template created using preoperative computed tomography was applied for removal, enabling us to approach just above the implant body. Six months after removal, a new implant body was embedded at an appropriate placement position using computer-guided surgery, with good results. Computer-guided surgery enabled us to verify the exact placement position of the new implant body, and provided a less surgically invasive procedure with better outcome than if computer-guided surgery had not been used.
Digital technologies such as computer-guided surgery are expected to be used for various clinical applications in the future.
