Clinical Application of Stereolithographic Surgical Guides for Implant Placement: Preliminary Results

Abstract

Clinical data suggest that computer-aided rapid prototyping of surgical guides may be useful in implant placement. However, the technique requires improvement to provide better stability of the guide during the surgery, in cases of unilateral bone-supported and non-tooth-supported guides. Further clinical studies, using greater number of patients, are necessary to evaluate the real impact of the stereolithographic surgical guide on implant therapy.

Stereolithographic Surgical Template: A Review

“…The laser polymerizes the surface layer of the resin on contact. Once the first slice is completed, a mechanical table which is immediately below the surface, moves down 1 mm, carrying with it the previously polymerised resin layer of the model [5][6][7]15].…”

“…The surgical templates are fabricated in a similar manner. They are built onto the surface anatomy of the stereolithographic model and are connected to it by a series of minute triangles that are later removed during the finishing process [6,13,[15][16].…”

“…In this manner, surgical templates which seat directly on the bone and have metal sleeves which correspond to each fixture site, are generated .Two sets of surgical templates which contain different sleeve diameters which correspond to the incremental size of the osteotomy drill which is being used, are required. The precise depth, angulation, and mesiodistal and bucco-lingual positioning of each implant, as are planned during the computer simulation, are pre-programmed in the template [2,6,15]. Windows on the buccal aspect allow access for external irrigation.…”

“…The configuration of the sleeves, as they relate to the drill, is such that there is only one direction for axial movement. Once the implants are placed, conventional protocol is followed, based on the implant system which is being used [2,6,[15][16][17].…”

A review of the issues surrounding three-dimensional computed tomography for medical modelling using rapid prototyping techniques

“…Medical models are routinely used for diagnosis, communication and pre-surgical planning but also they are increasingly used in the design and manufacture of implants and prosthesis [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] , creating surgical guides [10][11][12][13][14][15] , making imaging phantoms and teaching. Clear demonstration of benefits published in case studies and review articles has led to increasing interest in medical modelling [16][17][18] .…”