The ray setting procedure: a new method for implant planning and immediate prosthesis delivery

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Prosthodontics
• Oral Surgery

Background:

• Accurate dental implant placement is crucial for successful prosthetic rehabilitation.
• Current methods for pre-surgical planning can be complex and time-consuming.
• The need for predictable outcomes in immediate loading protocols is increasing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the ray setting procedure for precise dental implant positioning.
• To demonstrate the fabrication of patient-specific surgical guides and prostheses.
• To assess the feasibility of immediate occlusal loading with prostheses fabricated pre-surgically.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Ray Set device to define hard and soft tissue anatomy on a working cast.
• Correlated cast data with computed tomographic (CT) data and an articulator.
• Fabricated a definitive all-ceramic prosthesis and a surgical stent prior to implant placement.
• Employed the presurgical implant prosthesis (PIP) method for prosthesis fabrication.

Main Results:

• The ray setting procedure enabled precise determination of implant positions on the working cast.
• A passive-fit, all-ceramic prosthesis was successfully fabricated before surgery.
• Immediate occlusal loading was achieved with the pre-surgically fabricated prosthesis.
• The system facilitated accurate margin finishing before cementation.

Conclusions:

• The ray setting procedure offers a predictable method for dental implant planning and immediate prosthesis fabrication.
• This technique supports immediate or delayed implant loading protocols.
• The system integrates digital and analog workflows for enhanced prosthetic outcomes.