Tooth-Supported 3D-Printed Surgical Guide for Titanium Mesh Placement in Bone Augmentation of the Esthetic Zone

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Biomaterials Science
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Titanium mesh is crucial for guided bone regeneration (GBR), offering robust support for bone augmentation.
• Intraoperative inaccuracies in mesh placement can compromise the success of GBR procedures.
• A precise method for intraoperative mesh positioning is needed to optimize GBR outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel tooth-supported, 3D-printed surgical guide for accurate intraoperative placement of titanium mesh.
• To evaluate the accuracy of this guide in transferring preoperative designs to surgical execution for bone augmentation in the esthetic zone.

Main Methods:

• A case series describing the design and application of a patient-specific, 3D-printed surgical guide.
• The guide facilitates the precise, in-situ fixation of titanium mesh during the bone augmentation procedure.
• Evaluation of intraoperative mesh displacement and overall bone augmentation volume deviation.

Main Results:

• The surgical guide enabled precise intraoperative positioning of titanium mesh, aligning with preoperative plans.
• Average titanium mesh deviation was 0.42 mm, with a maximum of 1.59 mm.
• Bone augmentation volume deviation averaged 0.057 cm³, achieving 91.67% accuracy.

Conclusions:

• The tooth-supported positioning guide accurately translates preoperative designs into surgical reality for titanium mesh-supported GBR.
• This technology standardizes and controls the bone augmentation workflow, increasing predictability.
• The guide significantly improves the accuracy of titanium mesh placement, enhancing esthetic zone outcomes.