Purpose: Evaluation of the accuracy of implants position using two different types of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) surgical guides, including bone supported and mucosa supported guided templates.
Materials and methods: Twelve completely edentulous patients were selected for this study and divided into two groups six each. all patients received a radiopaque radiographic template. A cone beam computed tomography was taken to simulate the position of the two implants, virtual implants were drawn in its place, fabrication of surgical guide template using rapid prototyping technique to match the position of virtual implant according to patient' group. Group I bone supported surgical guide(BSG) and group II mucosa supported surgical guide (MSG). The implants were installed for each patient using surgical guide templates according to the group. The positions and angulations of the placed implants in comparison to those of the planned ones were determined using special software that matched pre- and postoperative computed tomography (CT) images, and deviations were calculated and compared between the two guide templates using a software program to detect any difference in linear and angular deviation. Data were collected; tabulated and analyzed using student T test.
Results : There was no significant difference of both linear and angular measurements between virtual and the surgically placed implants for both groups. Also there was insignificant difference in accuracy between group I (bone supported) and group II (mucosa supported).
Conclusions: Using template-guided surgery enables the clinician to optimize implant position, angle, diameter and length by dictating the drilling position and angulation. Cone beam CT has accurate measurements in distances between two implants as clinical measurements. The bone supported surgical guide as well as the mucosa supported surgical guide has the same accuracy in implant positioning.