EVALUATION OF 3D PRINTED STENTS FOR GUIDED INTRABONY MAXILLOFACIAL BIOPSIES

BACKGROUND: Biopsies may be difficult to do if the lesions are too small, too near to vital tissues, or too tough to access. Examples include excision and incision, fine needle (with or without US guidance), core biopsy (with or without US guidance), and other traditional biopsy procedures. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of the 3D printed tooth-supported stent in biopsy for intra-bony lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 12 individuals with intra-bony lesions in the jaw. All participants were recruited at random from the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery outpatient clinic at the University of Alexandria's School of Dentistry. The sample size was calculated by G Power, version 3.1.9.2 with the following criteria: 80% study power and 5% alpha error. The sample size was determined to be 6 patients per group based on the difference between two independent means using pooled SD=0.48 mm to account for missing follow-up cases. Biopsies were obtained using a surgical guide and a trephine bur, and the findings were examined by Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) following the surgery. RESULTS: The planning software and the related (digitally created) biopsy cylinder were used to test the precision of the postoperative low-dose CBCT. The horizontal angle of departure between a drill's virtually planned location and its actual placement ranged from 0.38 degrees to 0.95 degrees, with a mean of 0.70 degrees and a standard deviation of 0.18 degrees. CONCLUSION: Template-guided biopsy of the jawbone seems to be an alternative to a conventional approach with possibility of obtaining predictable and safe biopsies with comparatively low invasiveness and risk.