Accuracy of Implant Placement Utilizing 3D Printed and Thermoplastic Surgical Guides: A CBCT-Analysis

To achieve desirable functional and esthetic objectives in implant treatment, detailed case study, and planning is required. Since the introduction of 3D-printed technology into multiple fields, such as medicine and engineering, the use of this technology in dentistry is still to be explored. This study aimed to assess implant placement accuracy using two different implant surgical guides: thermoplastic (TP) and 3D-printed. Thirty acrylic resin mandibles missing the second premolar were fabricated with stereolithography (SLA) based on data from the CBCT scan. 15 TP and 15 3D-printed guides were constructed for the placement of the implants in relation to the mental foramen, and virtual implant apex distance from the mental foramen was set as 3.18 mm. 30 dummy 3.5 x 8mm implants were installed into the replica jaw models. Post-placement CBCT scans were compared to the virtual implant placement in relation to the mental foramen with the actual implant placement. The mean +/- SD of the implant distance to mental foramen for the 3D and TP guides was 3.12 +/- 0.36 mm and 2.52 +/- 0.83 mm (P<0.05); respectively. The deviation apex of the implant for the 3D-printed and TP guides was 0.92 +/- 0.14 mm and 1.57 +/- 0.45 mm (P<0.001); respectively. The angular deviation of the 3D-printed and TP guides was 3.33 +/- 0.860 and 4.03 +/- 1.130, respectively. Based on this study, the 3D printed guides were more accurate than the TP guides in terms of implant placement accuracy in relation to an important landmark and 3D implant placement.