Accuracy of autonomous robotic surgery for single-tooth implant placement: A case series

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of the autonomous robotic computer-assisted implant surgery (r-CAIS) for single-tooth implant placement.

Methods: Patients with a single missing tooth were enrolled for the autonomous robotic implant surgery. The patients underwent a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan with a positioning marker. Virtual preoperative implant placement and a drilling plan were created before surgery. The robotic system automatically performed the implant osteotomy and placement intraoperatively under the surgeon's supervision. A postoperative CBCT scan was performed to evaluate the deviations between the planned and placed implants.

Results: Ten patients with single dental implant placement were enrolled. No adverse surgical events and postoperative complications (i.e., infection and early implant failure) were reported. The autonomous robotic implant surgery exhibited a mean overall coronal deviation of 0.74 mm (95% CI: 0.53 to 0.94 mm), a mean overall apical deviation of 0.73 mm (95% CI: 0.53 to 0.93 mm), and an angular deviation of 1.11° (95% CI: 0.78 to 1.44°), respectively.

Conclusions: The high accuracy of autonomous r-CAIS technology in single-tooth implant placement was attributed to the control of the angular deviation and axial errors.

Clinical significance: The main findings of this study provide significant evidence to support the autonomous robotic implant surgery system as a potential alternative in dental implant surgery.

Keywords: Accuracy; Computer-assisted surgery; Digital dentistry; Implant dentistry; Robot-assisted surgery.