CT image presentations for surgical planning of maxilla and mandibular denture implants

A system is described that produces mutually cross-referenced axial, oblique, software-generated Panorex and three-dimensional images of the maxilla and mandible that help the surgeon plan the procedure for permanently imbedding dentures. The CT image presentations include spatially accurate and optimally oriented oblique views to assess bone structure, strength, and three-dimensional shape. Typically, more than 60 small oblique images are generated. Each oblique image is oriented perpendicular to the local maxilla or mandible curvature and shows the location of the nerve canal or the alveolar ridge and the incisive canal when the maxilla is scanned. Such oblique plane information, cross-referenced to several CT-generated Panorex views, indicate to surgeons where fixtures can be precisely positioned to avoid the nerve yet gain the maximum support from existing bone structure. More than 50 patient procedures are summarized