Novel digital technique to analyze the accuracy and intraoperative complications of orthodontic self-tapping and self-drilling microscrews placement techniques: An in vitro study.

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this study were to analyze and compare the accuracy and intraoperative complications of orthodontic self-tapping and orthodontic self-drilling microscrew placement techniques. METHODS: A total of 60 orthodontic microscrews were randomly distributed into 2 study groups: (1) group A, orthodontic self-drilling microscrew placement technique (n = 30); and (2) group B, orthodontic self-tapping microscrew placement technique (n = 30). Cone-beam computed tomography and intraoral scans were performed before and after the orthodontic microscrew placement techniques and uploaded in 3-dimensional implant planning software to analyze the deviation angle and the horizontal deviation measured at the coronal entry point and apical endpoint between orthodontic microscrews planned and performed, using the Student t test. In addition, intraoperative complications, such as root perforations after the orthodontic microscrews placement and the fracture of the orthodontic self-tapping microscrews during their placement, were also analyzed. RESULTS: The paired t test revealed statistically significant differences at the apical endpoint (P <0.001) between planned and performed orthodontic self-tapping and self-drilling microscrew placement techniques. However, the paired t test revealed no statistically significant differences at the coronal entry point (P = 0.1047) and angular deviations (P = 0.3251) between planned and performed orthodontic self-tapping and self-drilling microscrews placement techniques. Furthermore, 4 root perforations were observed at the orthodontic self-tapping microscrews placement technique, and 1 orthodontic self-tapping microscrew was fractured during the placement procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the orthodontic self-drilling microscrew technique increases the accuracy of orthodontic microscrews placement, resulting in fewer intraoperative complications.

Influence of the Digital Mock-Up and Experience on the Ability to Determine the Prosthetically Correct Dental Implant Position during Digital Planning: An In Vitro Study.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of the digital mock-up and operator experience on the dental implant planning position. A total of 200 dental implants were planned, which were distributed into two study groups: A. dental implant planning by dental surgeons with 5-10 years of experience (n = 80); and B. dental implant planning by dental surgery students without experience (n = 120). Operators were required to plan eight dental implants in the same maxillary edentulous case uploaded in 3D implant-planning software, before and after using the digital mock-up. Deviations between the dental implant planning positions before and after using the digital mock-up were analyzed at platform, apical and angular levels, and were analyzed using a 3D implant-planning software using Student's t test. The paired t-test revealed statistically significant differences between the deviation levels of participants with 5-10 years' experience and no experience at the platform, apical and angular levels. Digital mock-ups allow for more accurate dental implant planning regardless of the experience of the operator. Nevertheless, they are more useful for operators without dental surgery experience.