CAD/CAM-produced surgical guides: Optimizing the treatment workflow.

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Medical Engineering
• Radiology

Background:

• Advancements in 3D radiological diagnosis enable wider use of CAD/CAM surgical guides for dental implants.
• Traditional workflows for fabricating surgical guides are complex, time-consuming, and expensive due to logistical challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a pilot workflow for directly milled surgical guides in dental implantology.
• To assess the accuracy and efficiency of a digital workflow for fabricating implant surgical guides.

Main Methods:

• Designed surgical guides by fusing optical impression data with radiological data.
• Evaluated the clinical accuracy of directly milled guides compared to conventional guides.
• Assessed implant axis deviation using conventional guides as a control.

Main Results:

• Directly milled surgical guides demonstrated accurate placement on residual dentition without tipping.
• The digital workflow facilitated external fabrication, eliminating physical transport needs.
• Reduced logistical effort and expense associated with central surgical guide fabrication.

Conclusions:

• Direct digital transfer of planning data enables efficient, cost-effective external fabrication of surgical guides.
• The evaluated workflow offers a streamlined alternative to conventional methods for implant surgical guide production.
• Directly milled surgical guides ensure accurate positioning for dental implant placement.