Helical CT scanning for CAD/CAM subperiosteal implant construction.

Subperiosteal implant is the treatment of choice for the fully or partially edentulous atrophic mandible if grafting procedures are not contemplated to give the jaw sufficient available bone for endosseous implants. The main disadvantage of the standard technique for the construction of this implant is that it requires two surgical procedures. However, it is an accepted and proven technique with a long-term survival rate. This paper discusses the use of the CT scan subperiosteal implant, which provides a result similar to that of the standard subperiosteal implant, but requires only one surgical procedure. The accuracy of fit of the CT scan subperiosteal implant is similar to that of the implant fabricated by means of a standard two-surgical-impression technique. New updated CT scan machines use faster helical scanners and offer a great improvement over previous CT scan machines. The new CT scan machines reduce the chance of patient movement, produce a more accurate CT scan, and enable a more accurate model of the mandible or maxilla to be developed. This paper discusses the production of a well-fitting CT scan subperiosteal implant by a trained, knowledgeable, and cooperative team of dentist, CT scan technician, and radiologist, all of whom understand the technical means to achieve their goal.