Predictability of the Implant Procedure on the Edentulous Ridge

Background: Since the development of the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been utilized in dentistry. It has almost become the gold standard to plan the dental implant before the surgery. The image of the CBCT can help the surgeon to evaluate the anatomy carefully before the procedure to be more prepared. Despite the value of the radiology evaluation, the implant procedures may require more consideration rather than evaluating the anatomical factors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the predictability of using the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) alone to plan for implant placement. Method: CBCT images were analyzed by a periodontist, measuring the ridge heights and widths of 12 selected teeth in the maxillary and mandibular arches for 91 patients planning for the implant-supported overdenture. Selected sites were investigated if the implants could be placed with or without additional augmentation procedures by reviewing the CBCT. The patient’s dental records were reviewed and compared with the planned procedure to investigate the predictability. Result: A total of 47 patients out of the 91 had completed the implant placement on the edentulous ridge, contributing to a total of 57 upper or lower teeth implants. Based on the mixed-effects logistic regression model results, we observe that the probabilities of having the planned treatments as the digital planning are only 0.38 and 0.57, respectively, for the cases suggested with/without additional augmentation. Both predictabilities are low, implying the CBCT planning for implant placement on the edentulous ridge is not a good index. It is insufficient to predict the surgical procedures as a solo method. Conclusion: According to our findings, it was shown that digital planning alone is insufficient to serve as an individual tool to predict implant placement. Further information is required to be considered for implant placement on the edentulous ridge