Current knowledge about stackable guides: a scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Surgical Guides
• Digital Dentistry

Background:

• Advancements in stereolithographic surgical guides and digital workflows enable same-time prosthesis placement.
• Understanding of materials and loading principles has improved implant procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess current knowledge on stackable guides for immediate temporary prosthesis placement.
• Focus on fully edentulous patients undergoing implant surgery.

Main Methods:

• Scoping review of case reports and case series.
• Included studies focused on stackable guides for edentulous patients.
• Clinical endpoint: immediate provisional prosthesis placement post-surgery with bone reduction.

Main Results:

• 12 articles met inclusion criteria; not suitable for systematic review.
• Most guides used 3-4 bone-pins for stabilization.
• Accuracy of bone reduction varied (0.0248–1.98 mm); only 4 studies reported quantitative data.
• 11 articles reported immediate loading of transitional prostheses.

Conclusions:

• No prospective or comparative studies exist on stackable guide efficiency.
• Stackable guides appear to reliably guide procedures from flap elevation to prosthesis placement.
• Further studies are required to validate the clinical relevance of this guided surgery technique.