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Abstract This study was conducted on 8 dental implants placed in five patients (3 females and 2 males) selected from the Outpatient Clinic of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University. Patients had missing anterior maxillary teeth indicated for ridge splitting and implant placement. The selected patients age ranged from 20-40 years old with a mean of 31 years old. This work aimed to evaluate the interchangeable guide in ridge splitting flapless technique for implant placement. All patients were operated under local anesthesia. The interchangeable surgical guide was checked for proper seating. A flapless approach was performed at the planned ridge splitting site. The incision and osteotomy were performed through the slot guided by the surgical stent. Drilling points of implants were initiated (guided by the surgical stent.), followed by stent removal. Expansion was then done with RS Kit (expanders) followed by implant placement and suturing. Clinical results revealed good operating time with minimal postoperative complications. There was mild pain among two patients that lasted for 1-2 days and traces of edema among also two patients which subsided by the 2nd postoperative day. One patient showed mild wound hematoma which subsided totally by the 2nd post-operative week. Cone beam computed tomography was done preoperatively for assessment of bone width, bone density and approximation of nasal cavity and incisive canal. Implants positions were virtually planned using 3D planning software (Mimics 19) based on a preoperative CBCT. Implants were placed after ridge splitting osteotomy guided by the interchangeable surgical guide. This technique represents a minimally invasive procedure avoiding large flap elevation thus preserving the periosteum for better blood supply to the alveolar ridge with minimal bleeding and postoperative complications. |