Exploring training dental implant placement using static or dynamic devices among dental students

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Surgical Navigation Technologies

Background:

• Static computer-assisted implant surgery (s-CAIS) and dynamic computer-assisted implant surgery (d-CAIS) are primary digital guidance methods for dental implant placement.
• Understanding the learning curves of these techniques for novice users is crucial for effective training and adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the learning curves of s-CAIS and d-CAIS for beginner dental students.
• To evaluate the impact of practice on the accuracy and efficiency of both surgical guidance systems.

Main Methods:

• Three dental students performed drilling tests on 30 dental models (150 implants total) using both d-CAIS and s-CAIS systems.
• Tests were conducted in sets with a 7-day interval, followed by a 6-month break before switching systems.
• Operation time and deviation parameters (coronal, apical) were recorded and analyzed to assess learning progression.

Main Results:

• A significant difference in operation time was observed between d-CAIS and s-CAIS (p < .001).
• Initial accuracy differences in coronal and apical deviations diminished with practice.
• Improvement was noted in the d-CAIS group as practice progressed, whereas the s-CAIS group showed less evident improvement.

Conclusions:

• Beginners demonstrated a learning curve effect with d-CAIS, but not with s-CAIS, in in vitro settings.
• Both dynamic navigation and static template-guided implant placement procedures were found to be easily mastered by novice operators.