The occurrence of dental implant malpositioning and related factors: A cross-sectional cone-beam computed tomography survey

PURPOSE: Dental implants are widely used for the rehabilitation of edentulous sites. This study investigated the occurrence of dental implant malpositioning as shown on post-implantation cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to identify related factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples with at least 1 malpositioned dental implant were collected from a central radiology clinic in Tehran, Iran from January 2017 to January 2019. Variables such as demographic characteristics, length and diameter of implants, type of implant, sites of implant insertion, different types of implant malpositioning problems (cortical plate perforation, interference with anatomical structures), angulation of the implant, and the severity of malpositioning were assessed. In addition, the incidence of implant fracture and over-drilling was evaluated. Data were statistically analyzed using the chi-square test, 1-sample t-test, and Spearman correlation coefficients. RESULTS: In total, 252 patients referred for implant postoperative CBCT evaluations were assessed. The cases of implant malpositioning included perforation of the buccal cortical plate (19.4%), perforation of the lingual cortical plate (14.3%), implant proximity to an adjacent implant (19.0%), implant proximity to an adjacent tooth (3.2%), interference with anatomical structures (maxillary sinus: 18.3%, mandibular canal: 11.1%, nasal cavity: 6.3%, mental foramen: 5.6%, and incisive canal: 0.4%). Implant fracture and over-drilling were found in 1.6% and 0.8% of cases, respectively. Severity was categorized as mild (9.5%), moderate (35.7%), severe (37.7%), and extreme (17.1%), and 52.4% of implants had inappropriate angulation. CONCLUSION: CBCT imaging is recommended for detecting dental implant malpositioning. The most common and severe type of malpositioning was buccal cortex perforation.