The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry is using a computer program to find the perfect spot in the mouth to place dental implants.
"There are many unknowns that are hidden until the time of surgery when the bone is exposed," says Dr. Joseph Califano, program director of periodontics. "Traditionally we make an incision to locate the bone, and we react to what we find and make decisions at that time. We don't always have a complete picture."
The traditional manner is often less than optimal, Califano said, because it involves on-the-spot decision-making during the procedure.
Through the use of the software SimPlant Planner, UIC periodontal faculty and residents can review the ideal prosthetic plan for a denture, bridge or other dental restoration as shown on a 3-D computed tomography scan, which also contains the anatomic information in an interactive setting, Califano said.
"We can place implants virtually on a trial basis," he said. "This allows us to review many options and develop an ideal surgical plan that fully supports the prosthetic plan we developed. We can eliminate most of the unknowns, which facilitates both patient consultation and the educational process, since the treatment decisions are made preoperatively."
Periodontists commonly use X-rays to develop plans for dental implants, said Dr. Alan Rosenfeld, clinical professor of periodontics, who is also in private practice. But he said there are limitations to this approach.
"X-rays are not as accurate as CT scans," Rosenfeld said, "and they do not allow for the transfer of prosthetic information to the radiograph. It also fails to determine prosthetic outcomes and doesn't allow for the transfer of prosthetically relevant information to guide the surgeon at the time of implant placement."