Comparing Medium to Long-Term Esthetic, Clinical, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Between Freehand and Computer-Assisted Dental Implant Placement: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare medium to long-term clinical and patient-reported outcomes between implants placed with computer-assisted implant surgery (CAIS) and freehand protocols.

Materials and methods: Thirty dental implants in the anterior maxillary region with an average of 4 years after loading were assessed by means of Pink Esthetic Scores (PESs), marginal bone level (MBL), and clinical and patient-reported outcomes.

Results: CAIS significantly outperformed freehand placement with regard to PES scores (p = 0.011). Likewise, implants placed with CAIS showed significantly higher MBLs (p < 0.001). Bleeding on probing, probing depth, and prevalence of mucositis did not differ between the groups, while no peri-implantitis was diagnosed.

Conclusions: The use of CAIS leads to superior outcomes in terms of esthetics and MBLs for implants placed in the esthetic zone as observed in medium to long-term follow-up. No difference was however observed with regard to peri-implant mucosa inflammation.

Clinical significance: This article highlights the outcome of computer-assisted implant surgery in achieving higher esthetic, MBL, and esthetic satisfaction compared to freehand implant placement.

Thai clinical trial registry: TCTR20240422015.