Accuracy of Computer-Guided Dental Implant Placement: A Clinical Comparison of Three Surgical Guide Types.

Background/

Objectives

The accurate and prosthetically driven placement of dental implants is crucial for long-term clinical success. While computer-aided static navigation enhances precision, the comparative accuracy of different surgical guide support types (teeth-, mucosa-, and bone-supported) under identical clinical conditions remains a critical and less explored variable. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of these three guide types.

Methods

This clinical study evaluated the precision of computer-aided implant placement by comparing planned versus actual implant positions in fifty participants who received 140 implants. Discrepancies were measured in 3D using STL files in Exocad® DentalCAD software (exocad Elefsina 3.2, Darmstadt, Germany).

Results

In the maxilla, mean total deviation was 0.443 mm at the implant neck and 0.562 mm at the apex. In the mandible, deviations were higher: 0.755 mm at the neck and 0.981 mm at the apex. Teeth-supported guides demonstrated the highest accuracy. Mucosa-supported guides showed the least precision, particularly in the mandible, while bone-supported guides provided clinically acceptable results.

Conclusions

Computer-aided static navigation is highly accurate for implant placement. Guide selection should be tailored to anatomical conditions, with bone-supported guides preferred for edentulous mandibles.