Evaluation of the accuracy of implant placement by using implant positional guide versus freehand: a prospective clinical study

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to examine and compare the accuracy of implant placement using implant positional guide and freehand. METHODS: 48 implants were placed in patients with single tooth loss with implant positional guide and freehand, respectively. The accuracy of implant placement was assessed by comparing the actual and planned position, including four parameters: coronal deviation, apical deviation, angular deviation, and vertical deviation. RESULTS: Comparing all the variables, it has been found that the implant positional guide is more accurate than the freehand. All parameters describing in the deviation were significantly lower in the implant positional guide group than the freehand. CONCLUSIONS: The implant positional guide can act as a practicable tool for dental implant surgery. It is a promising technology that guarantees low cost and high precision in implant surgery. However, based on the restricted evidence from clinical studies, longer follow-up periods, larger population studies, and standardized experimental studies are required. Trial registration CHICTR, ChiCTR2300071024. Registered 28 April 2023—CHICTR, ChiCTR2300071024. Registered 28 April 2023—Retrospectively registered, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=195424.