Introduction: This technical innovation presents a method that reproduces the position of a dental implant after insertion without the reuse of X-ray radiation.
Material and methods: An implant was inserted into the natural gap between the canines and premolars of three domestic pigs. A Straumann Scanbody was then screwed to the implant, and a digital impression of the jaw segment was made. The scanbody was scanned using a hand-held scanner. This was followed by the radiological detection of implant position on a CBCT. On the computer, the position of the implant was calculated and compared with the radiologically detected position.
Results: The calculated and determined position of the dental implant by the scanner is in good agreement with the radiologically controlled position.
Discussion: Evaluating the position of implants using intraoral scans is an easy and radiation-free method of three-dimensional site assessment after superimposition over a three-dimensional data set.
Keywords: implant position; non-radiological determination; three-dimensional.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.