Placement Error and Bone Regeneration of Customized Titanium Mesh With Vacuum‐Formed Placing Template for Anterior Maxillary Bone Defects: A Retrospective Case Series Study

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate placement error, bone regeneration, and mesh exposure of three-dimensionally printed customized titanium mesh (3DPC Ti-mesh) guided by a vacuum-formed placing template in guided bone regeneration (GBR) for anterior maxillary defects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 10 patients (23 implants) with Terheyden 2/4 or 3/4 defects were included. CBCT data of pre-operation (T0), immediate post-operation (T2), and 5-8 months post-operation (T3) were reconstructed. These three models and preoperative design (T1) model were co-registered to a common coordinate system. Mesh displacement and contour discrepancy were measured. Bone regeneration was evaluated in terms of bone volume and implant-related bone height and width. Classification, time, and rate of mesh exposures were recorded. RESULTS: Ti-mesh exhibited 0.57 ± 0.65 mm buccal displacement from T1 to T2 and 0.58 ± 0.57 mm apical displacement from T2 to T3. Mesh contour discrepancy was 0.70 ± 0.20 mm between T1 and T2 and decreased to 0.37 ± 0.12 mm between T2 and T3. Comparing T2 to T1, graft volume accuracy reached 91.1% ± 7.6%. Non-infected mesh exposure occurred in 26% implant sites. From T2 to T3, vertical bone resorption of 1.69 ± 1.56 mm and 0.14 ± 0.63 mm were recorded in exposed and non-exposed groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study to validate the use of a vacuum-formed template for positioning 3DPC Ti-mesh. Within the study limitations, this technique is a feasible approach for placing customized mesh in anterior maxillary GBR.