Osteotomy
Pronunciation: os-tee-OT-oh-mee
The surgically prepared channel in bone into which a dental implant is placed; also used broadly for any surgical incision through bone.
Full Definition
In dental implantology, 'osteotomy' refers specifically to the precision-drilled bone cavity created to receive an implant fixture. Editors must be aware that the same term is used in orthopaedics and maxillofacial surgery to mean a bone-cutting procedure to correct deformity, which is a different clinical meaning. In implantology manuscripts, the osteotomy's diameter, depth, and angulation are key parameters and must be reported with numerical precision. Editors should also note whether the text describes a 'pilot osteotomy' (initial guiding preparation) or a 'final osteotomy' (full-dimension preparation), as these are discrete surgical steps. The term is generally preferred over 'implant socket' in formal clinical writing.
Usage
Usage note: In implantology, 'osteotomy' denotes the prepared implant site, not a corrective bone cut as in orthopaedics. Clarify context when editing cross-specialty documents.
In Context
- "The osteotomy was prepared to a depth of 12 mm using a sequential drill protocol under copious saline irrigation." — Operative report
- "Care must be taken not to conflate the implantology use of 'osteotomy' with the orthopaedic meaning when editing interdisciplinary manuscripts." — Cross-specialty editorial note