Development of Customized Subperiosteal Dental Implants Using 3D Modeling Techniques

In cases of severe jawbone resorption where standard screw-type implants are not viable, custom-made subperiosteal dental implants offer a promising alternative. Advancements in 3D imaging, design, and printing technologies have streamlined the production of these implants, reducing treatment time and providing effective abutments for prostheses. A significant challenge in this process is the high cost of specialized industrial or medical design software, which can be prohibitive for smaller clinics. This study outlines a cost-effective workflow for designing and manufacturing custom subperiosteal implants using freely available software. The process involves selecting appropriate software, processing CT data, creating a 3D virtual model, designing the custom implant, and preparing data files for printing. Patient CT data was successfully converted into a watertight STL model of the maxilla. Design corrections were completed using free programs from Autodesk Inc. The implant was fabricated in Ti64 (a grade 5 titanium alloy) using direct metal laser sintering (DMLS). By avoiding expensive software, this approach makes the treatment more accessible to smaller clinics and mid-sized production facilities, thereby benefiting a broader range of patients.The purpose of this review is to examine various assessment methods in order to compare the accuracy between the virtually planned and clinically achieved implant positions. In this review, comparison methods using pre-and post-operative computed topography (CT) data and digital impressions for definitive prosthesis will be described. All of the assessment methods have their own inevitable errors and require careful interpretation in evaluation.