Comparison of accuracy between free-hand and surgical guide implant placement among experienced and non-experienced dental implant practitioners: an in vitro study

PURPOSE: This study investigated the accuracy of free-hand implant surgery performed by an experienced operator compared to static guided implant surgery performed by an inexperienced operator on an anterior maxillary dental model arch. METHODS: A maxillary dental model with missing teeth (No. 11, 22, and 23) was used for this in vitro study. An intraoral scan was performed on the model, with the resulting digital impression exported as a stereolithography file. Next, a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan was performed, with the resulting image exported as a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine file. Both files were imported into the RealGUIDE 5.0 dental implant planning software. Active Bio implants were selected to place into the model. A single stereolithographic 3-dimensional surgical guide was printed for all cases. Ten clinicians, divided into 2 groups, placed a total of 60 implants in 20 acrylic resin maxillary models. Due to the small sample size, the Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze mean values in the 2 groups. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS version 9.4. RESULTS: The accuracy of implant placement using a surgical guide was significantly higher than that of free-hand implantation. The mean difference between the planned and actual implant positions at the apex was 0.68 mm for the experienced group using the free-hand technique and 0.14 mm for the non-experienced group using the surgical guide technique (P=0.019). At the top of the implant, the mean difference was 1.04 mm for the experienced group using the free-hand technique and 0.52 mm for the non-experienced group using the surgical guide technique (P=0.044). CONCLUSIONS: The data from this study will provide valuable insights for future studies, since in vitro studies should be conducted extensively in advance of retrospective or prospective studies to avoid burdening patients unnecessarily.