Evaluating the Accuracy of Dental Implant Placement with a Sleeveless Digital Surgical Guide in Partially Edentulous Patients: A Prospective Clinical Trial

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of dental implant placement using a sleeveless tooth-supported digital surgical guide in partially edentulous patients. A prospective clinical study was conducted involving 18 patients (12 females and 6 males) older than 18 years old, who received a total of 32 dental implants. The results showed close agreement between the planned and actual implant positions. The mean coronal global deviation was 0.45 ± 0.16 mm, and the mean apical global deviation was 0.64 ± 0.28 mm. The mean coronal horizontal deviation was 0.33 ± 0.16 mm, while the mean apical horizontal deviation was 0.56 ± 0.29 mm. The mean apical depth deviation was-0.01 ± 0.31 mm, and the mean angular deviation was 1.77 ± 0.91°. No statistically significant difference was found between flap and flapless approaches. Guide adjustment was required in only two patients, involving three implant sites. Within the limitations of this study, sleeveless digital surgical guides demonstrated clinically acceptable accuracy for dental implant placement in partially edentulous patients.