title: A surgical stent for the Brånemark Novum bone reduction procedure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Brånemark Novum concept (Nobel Biocare AB, Göteborg, Sweden) was introduced to load implants immediately with a definitive fixed prosthesis in the edentulous mandible. This concept is based on the use of prefabricated templates to allow precise placement of three implants and a prefabricated bar structure for the prosthetic procedure. To obtain three-dimensional stability in these prefabricated templates, surgical bone reduction may be necessary to obtain a stable adaptation between the templates and the recipient bone site.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to design a surgical stent for predictable reduction of the residual alveolar crest prior to the implant placement procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A predetermined alveolar crest platform based essentially on a lateral cephalometric radiographic evaluation was simulated on a cast in order to design a transparent resin surgical guide. The predictability potential of the procedure was then evaluated in 10 patients. The prosthetic outcomes were compared with those of a similar group of 10 patients treated without the presented stent by evaluating two factors, namely, the anterior dimensions of the prostheses and the required posterior adjustments of the upper bar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Correlation analysis of our series suggested a good predictability potential for this procedure (r = 0.9215). The mean anterior prosthetic dimension was 32% lower and was more predictable (narrow range of 8-12 mm vs broad range of 8-21 mm) when the stent was used. Furthermore, since half as many posterior adjustments of the upper bar were required, the laboratory procedure was facilitated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This individualized guide allows appropriate bone reduction for obtaining a predictable surgery and prosthetic stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Erasmus Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium. laurentbarteaux@skynet.be
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barteaux
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Daelemans
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malevez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000601:surgery*; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003825:Denture, Complete, Immediate; D003826:Denture, Complete, Lower; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D003765:Models, Dental; D013516:Oral Surgical Procedures, Preprosthetic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D013165:Splints; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants