Success rate and complications associated with dental implants in the incisive canal region: a systematic review

Abstract

A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the success rate of dental implants placed in the incisive canal region and the complications related to this procedure. An electronic search was performed in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Articles reporting the incisive canal deflation technique or neurovascular bundle lateralization technique, with or without concomitant dental implant installation and grafting procedures, were evaluated. Ten articles met the inclusion criteria; only one retrospective study and one longitudinal clinical trial were found. A total of 91 implants were installed in this region, and implant success ranged from 84.6% to 100%. With regard to complications, three articles reported temporary sensory loss. Permanent sensory loss in the palatal mucosa region was reported in one study applying neurovascular bundle lateralization. Five studies were assessed in the quality analysis: four were of moderate quality and one was of low quality. Although a high success rate was described in the selected studies, caution is recommended when dental implants are installed in the incisive canal region due to the low level of evidence available. Regarding complications, there are no parameters for predicting the occurrence of sensory disturbances or the extent of damage with the use of incisive canal deflation or neurovascular bundle lateralization.