A simplified CAD/CAM extraoral surgical guide for therapeutic injections

• Published in: Journal of dental anesthesia and pain medicine: JDAPM Vol. 21; no. 3; pp. 253 - 260
• Main Authors: Cameron, Andrew, Custódio, Antônio Luís Neto, Bakr, Mahmoud, Reher, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Korean Dental Society of Anesthsiology 01.06.2021; 대한치과마취과학회
• Subjects: Technical Note; 치의학
• ISSN: 2383-9309; 2383-9317
• DOI: 10.17245/jdapm.2021.21.3.253

Therapeutic injections into the craniofacial region can be a complex procedure because of the nature of its anatomical structure. This technical note demonstrates a process for creating an extra-oral template to inject therapeutic substances into the temporomandibular joint and the lateral pterygoid muscle. The described process involves merging cone-beam computed tomography data and extra-oral facial scans obtained using a mobile device to establish a correlated data set for virtual planning. Virtual injection points were simulated using existing dental implant planning software to assist clinicians in precisely targeting specific anatomical structures. A template was designed and then 3D printed. The printed template showed adequate surface fit. This innovative process demonstrates a potential new clinical technique. However, further validation and in vivo trials are necessary to assess its full potential.