Computerized navigation surgery for the safe placement of palatal implants

Palatal endosseous implants are increasingly recognized as an important alternative for achieving maximal intraoral orthodontic anchorage; however, their safe surgical placement is a matter of concern. Available palatal bone is frequently limited, and erroneous drilling can damage adjacent structures. Computerized navigation surgery is an advanced surgical modality in which the surgical drill is accurately tracked and animated in real time on the radiological image of the surgical site. In implant dentistry, this surgical modality allows accurate navigation of the implant drilling procedure and increases safety and accuracy, compared with conventional dental implant surgery. This article outlines the principles of computerized navigation surgery and describes its application for the placement of palatal orthodontic implants. The merits of this approach are particularly important for patients with limited palatal bone when implant placement requires high surgical precision.